Christmas Follies

The Christmas decorating has begun. I didn't decorate last year; I wasn't much in the mood. This past weekend I went to the nursery in Pudong with a friend and we located a living "Christmas Tree" for my apartment. I decided it was about time I did something with the ornaments I keep purchasing from different parts of Asia. There aren't enough of them to fill a regular sized tree, but that's OK.

I located a small little tree - the pot was unacceptable. Fortunately the place sells pots as well. Repotting is free. There is a stack of heavy pots in all shapes and sizes and all grades of tacky. The trick is to find one towards the back of the stack so that the workers have to move stack after stack of 300 lb pots to reach the one you want. Having selected one in a suitable location, I directed the repotting and ordered the delivery.

They delivered the tree and other plants today while I was at work with the assistance of a gentleman who lives in my building. I explained where I wanted the tree located and after some discussion, we decided the crappy piece of furniture I want it on could support the weight. After all, it is not a large tree. I ran into my friend at a meeting later in the day and he explained that we had underestimated the weight and size of the tree. This is something I do every single year at home, when I select the perfect tree at the market after having a few cocktails before hand and then have to saw half of it off in the front yard when I discover it is about 4 feet too tall for my ceilings. How I managed the same trick stone sober in a small nursery in Shanghai is beyond my comprehension.

The tree isn't much in height, but what it lacks in that capacity it makes up for in girth and weight. The Chinese tend to be more generous with dirt around the root ball because expats don't have to do the lifting themselves. The poor suckers who brought this one up the elevator didn't bring the dolly with them, and my friend gave me blow by blow details of the effort it took to get it from the elevator into my house. Glad I wasn't here.

As a result of the weight and girth, it is sitting in a different location and the cheap formica covered table has been spared a crushing blow.

My friend went to another nursery after I suggested his new mantle needed garland. He had a woman with him who has excellent negotiation skills and she was able to acquire 8 feet of garland for 185 kuai and two wreathes for 20 kuai a piece. For those of you in the US, 20 kuai is around US $2.50. The wreathes are (surprisingly) of similar quality to those you would buy in the US so this was quite a deal. I now have one hanging on my apartment door.

Tomorrow I will buy lights so I can string the tree and put up the rest of the ornaments. Since the tree is live, I figure it reduces the chance that the crummy lights I put up will burn down the apartment building. That may be misplaced faith. I don't have any presents under the tree which doesn't seem to help it much. What do you buy for people who live in China? A pashamina scarf? Pirated DVDs? It's going to be tricky.

My luck with indoor plants isn't so good, but I figure this tree should last as long as a cut one would last in the States. There is a small group of folks who seem to be staying in Shanghai over Christmas. Most people go home. I'm trying to round up the stragglers for some sort of Christmas dinner which I won't be able to cook with my plate warmer. I can handle the mashed potatoes and green beans on the stove top and the turkey, rolls and cranberries will have to be someone else's responsibility. I should be able to handle the gravy here as well. It will be interesting. I'm working on a United Nations Christmas dinner. So far, two from the US, a German, a guy from Iceland and perhaps one or two others.

Women all head home to their families - almost all the gals I know are in their 50's and their kids are grown and back in the States. The men tend to be a bit more independent and care less about spending Christmas away from their families. I am scheduled to rotate back to the US after Christmas and I was told to enjoy Christmas in Shanghai this year. We'll see.