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Search For The Perfect Christmas Tree

Sunday, December 23rd, 2007

This happened many years ago but it is as fresh in my memory as if it were just yesterday.  We were tasked to search for a suitable branch that will be used as a Christmas tree in school.  No other place could be better than Mabuhay, a mountainous barrio in town.  So with provisions and a bottle of rum, we started walking into the woods.  Within the cluster of trees, a nice branch beckoned, and we scrambled to get to the top of a tree.  I had the bolo to chop it off.  As I positioned for a secure hold, I noticed buzzing and sudden hotness in my left ear.  Before I figured out what stung me, a swarm of hornets flew over.  I dropped the bolo and followed it down butt first.  Everybody scrambled towards the river including the hornets, forcing us to test our lung power as we hid underwater to ward off the flying stings.  A minute passed by and my ear ballooned like an elephant’s.  On the opposite bank, we spotted another suitable candidate.  We chopped it off immediately.  And in order to admire it fully, I tried planting it on the ground, breaking the branch in the process, and everybody howled in dismay!  So back we go again in search of that elusive Christmas Tree.  Then a perfect branch appeared in the distance, we got it and held on as if our lives depended upon it. We crossed the river again with the Christmas Tree in tow.  I thought the river was shallow until the water lapped way over my nose and I began swimming, and the tree slipped off my fingers. We watched helplessly as it was carried by the current downstream. For a time it was submerged in the water and we thought we lost it again. But a few meters ahead by the bend, the tree bobbed and we swam towards it. Ah, behold, the perfect Christmas Tree!



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Posted by benhurjun at 7:09 pm | permalink

Previous Comments

what an adventuruous journey.I wish I would have been with you.

Posted by hitesh sahni at December 24, 2007, 12:46 am

that was a great journey. Could feel the real situation from your write. Great Job Dude..

Posted by Susanno at December 24, 2007, 2:20 am

Thanks Susanno and hitesh sahni, Yeah that was one awesome adventure. And i forgot to mention, along the way to the river was a head high corn field and we picked corn cobs that we cooked in an open fire while we gathered to dry ourselves. We laughed ourselves silly at our misadventures with the stinging hornets and drowning.

Posted by benhurjun at December 24, 2007, 10:09 am

Amazing story. Did you feel at any point that the fates were against you getting that perfect Christmas tree? I felt for you every step of the way.

Posted by Patricia at December 24, 2007, 10:14 am

I was a teenager back then and I was with wacky friends who eat mis-adventure for breakfast! It was fun and exciting and reason enough to stick to my brain after all these years. Happy Holidays Patricia!

Posted by benhurjun at December 24, 2007, 10:24 am

Now that is a true Christmas miracle. :)

Well three really: you didn’t break your neck in the fall, you didn’t die from the hornet attacks and you didn’t drown in the river!!

Thankfully you survived to tell us your story.

Merry Christmas!

Posted by Chelle B. at December 25, 2007, 10:08 am

Hey thanks Chelle B. Make it four:The farmer of the corn field did not run fast enough to catch us stealing his corn. Stealing is bad? But it felt like a game, and we were young, and restless ah….

Posted by benhurjun at December 25, 2007, 10:54 am

That is quite the adventure! It really makes you appreciate your Christmas tree that much more. Have a merry Christmas!

Posted by Marlowjust at December 25, 2007, 11:10 am

Sure thing. Thanks Marlowjust. Merry Christmas!

Posted by benhurjun at December 25, 2007, 11:37 am

Oh what a day that must have been! Great post!
Thanks for the comment in my blog..I have posted a small story about Christmas myself..Do visit and let me know your opinion..

Posted by Ezhuthukari at December 26, 2007, 1:03 am

I just did. Merry Christmas Ezhuthukari! And may you have gifts now under your Christmas tree even without Santa and the chimney!

Posted by benhurjun at December 26, 2007, 9:29 am

Thank you! Hope you had a lovely Christmas too:-)

Posted by Ezhuthukari at December 27, 2007, 12:40 am

hehehe you certainly are passionate about your christmas trees :P

I’m lazy. I’ll just get one at the mall :D

Posted by cyberpunk at December 27, 2007, 12:48 pm