The Tinsel is Down

We spent today taking down all of the holiday decorations. I admit, I get a little melancholy doing it. At the same time, it does feel great to clean house. This year, we finally burned the ornament candle (above). For years, we've put it out as decoration, but never lit the flame. My aunt (my mom's twin) would give us some sort of quirky present every year for Christmas. We all looked forward to seeing what it would be, and always got a kick out of whatever it was. One year, we received this candle as a gift. It was one of the last years she was around for the holidays -- she passed away not too much later from breast cancer. I just could never bring myself to use the crazy candle. Every year Brian asks if we can light it. And every year I say "not this candle." But it's been almost ten years since that last Christmas, and I know it was given to us to be used. So we did. I think she'd like that.