Matty, the frugal guy that he was, especially around Christmas, loved to spend $5 on a tree permit and wander up into the state forest to pluck out his ideal tree. I had the pleasure of viewing a couple of these specimens, and when I used to off-handedly ask if he picked it up at the same place Charlie Brown got his, man, did he cop a Mattitude real bad. He sure could dish it, but man he couldn't take it at all. Little did he know that boxing up those ornaments last year there wouldn't be another seasonal trip to the forest. Recently unpacking his ornaments - in our house - I was dealt still one more sober reminder that the guy isn't here. I had an inspirational thought about displaying them in some way, so I took a plank of wood, sprayed it a fitting Christmas gold, and hung the ornaments on some fishing line. The collection is really quite touching and is hung in an opening leading to the downstairs. FYI - you'll see our parent's painting hanging in the background. This hung over our fireplace in Califon for many years growing up. Now it rests here after being at Matty's. Wth Mom, Pop and now Matty not here, it's bizarre how much the inside of our little ranch home in Littleton is looking more and more like the little ranch house we grew up in back in Jersey.

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