I try to keep my carbon footprint as small as possible, and I do think about the impact of cutting trees for display and for a short period of time. In fact, I heard a man lecture his wife about the real Christmas trees cut and on display. He was telling her how wrong it is to kill trees like that for a holiday. In all sincerity, the young wife said, “Honey, but I think it is already dead.” I had to duck around to the next isle, because I could not hold back a big belly laugh.

In addition, I have so much to do around the holidays, that I know I would not remember to keep a real tree watered, and yes they do need to be watered. Even when watered, they drop a lot of dead needles, so you need to vacuum pretty often too.

To top it all off, I’ve developed an allergy to evergreens. Real trees make my nose run like crazy, and if I’m around one long enough, I can develop a sinus infection. I’ve managed to do that this year and don’t even have a tree up yet.

Real trees are certainly nice, and I’m not an anti-Christmas tree activist. Some of my family members and friends still display real trees. I enjoy seeing them, but I don’t stay too long, or I have to go find Kleenex.

Around here, it’s artificial on the Christmas tree. It’s easier, greener, and I don’t have to vacuum and blow my nose throughout December.