A Tale Of Two Trees

Smug. That's how I'd describe myself on December 4th when a Lake Forest High School hockey-dad delivered my Christmas tree. So very smug. And now for the backstory: I'm fairly organized in most aspects of my life, particularly professionally. Unless there are extenuating circumstances (e.g. discovering my house is sinking or deciding to start over completely on a different book), I meet my publication deadlines. Despite my best efforts at procrastination, I turn in all of my Tribune Media Services columns absolutely on time, and often early. My book tour prep begins months in advance and I have packing down to such a science that I can do a week-long junket with only carry-on luggage. Yet somehow Christmas never fails to sneak up on me and I always find myself scrambling at the last minute. The problem is I hate how the holiday season starts earlier and earlier each year. I always keep track of which retailer starts force-feeding its customers Christmas cheer the earliest. Last year's big offender was the Walgreens in Logan Square because they sold decorations in October and this year, the Macy's in Vernon Hills made my naughty list by be-ribboning and and be-dazzling their display windows in September. Sept-frigging-tember. Plus, the only reason I was at Macy's that day was to buy a new swimsuit. Point? In my little Jen-centric world, Christmas doesn't officially begin until I put up my tree, which I always do between December 10th to 14th. I'm all about the live...