Think Different: Christmas Trees

Creativity is about thinking different. And while I love a beautiful Christmas tree, especially in Carvesville, they’ve gotten very expensive in the last decade, especially in your passion is blue spruce.

We love Christmas trees because they can be very grounding and purely uncontaminated, noncommercial experience, assuming that you didn’t totally break the bank at Neiman Marcus for decorations.

via Flickr’s leanndraThis year in particular, I have a sense that we cannot go home again in America. The country must change, and us, too. Life these days is like trying to ride your bike backwards without falling off.

Nevertheless, this is America. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

We’re living in topsy turvy times, so why not reinvent the idea of our Christmas tree and please make those recycled ingredients, if you don’t mind. Even Martha Stewart writes about her passion for aluminum Christmas trees.

Colorful firehydrants in Brisbee, ArizonaLet me frame the issue for you. Over Thanksgiving my dear friend and I were in Tucson, Arizona scouting around the real estate and lifestyle atmosphere. Driving south to the Mexican border, we happened into this positively marvelous little town called Brisbee.

PK thought I was crazy when I went ‘oohlala’ over the fire hydrants in town, but my point is: who said that fire hydrants must be painted red? Local law on the books, right?

How about fire hydrants that make you smile. Suddenly this utilitarian ‘thing’ that gets no attention is center-stage as a feel-good factor. Why are we smiling? Because this is one funky-looking fire hydrant. It’s whimsical and full of personality, just like much of Brisbee.

I love this Wall Street Journal “new take” on the old idea of Christmas trees. Make instead a Christmas fantasy … a bit of madness, as long as it has lights. I’m not sure about a Christmas tree made from bricks — not very tactile and definitely no scent.

Just be Brisbee, Arizona firehydrant-inspired in your holiday Christmas tree decorating. Don’t spend much money; amp up your creativity and get out of your historical decorations box. The WSJ flick shows us that manufacturers are coming to our creative rescue, but come on … you can do it without their help.

There’s nothing like a break from routine to get yourself thinking straight again.

This advice is coming from the consummate workaholic. After spending five days in Arizona, I returned to New York with a new attitude. video via Wall Street Journal

Followup Dec. 13, 2009 I just found a terrific blog Garden Porn, written by . In a smile flashback I recalled the revolving steel foil tree from the eighties. Ah yes, and the color wheel, which Michelle calls entertainment for the intoxicated.