
I must have bought this oldest artificial Christmas tree when I was in college. It came in a box, with the flat stand in the bottom, then a brown trunk-like-paper-wrapped pole with slanted holes drilled it it. Each plastic branch was stacked flat, one on top of another. After the trunk screwed to the stand, the branches (starting with the top one was easiest) poked in at an angle.
It was sturdy and cute, about 2 1/2 feet tall, didn’t need watering, was easy to pack away–every year for decades. Except for the box. It finally gave up. But the little plastic tree still lives with us, after about 60 years.

We were seniors at SCI. I worked part-time as a student supervisor in the circulation department of the Donald O. Rod Library, where I’d worked since its opening the fall of 1963. (I’d started out in the original college library.) I’d been elected secretary of Lawther Hall’s dorm government. Our meetings were at 10:00 at night and I’d type up the minutes on my portable manual typewriter after that.
With the Vietnam War lurking in our background, Guy was about to join the Air Force delayed enlistment program to avoid the draft.
Joy! I love your little tree and the delightful photo of you and Guy! If you’ve shared it before – the pic of the two of you – I’ve missed it. Thank you for putting a big smile on my face this morning! 🥰❤️🥰
Thanks and good morning, Vicki!
Xo! 🥰
We used to have a similar artificial tree. We used it in our house until we bought a taller one when the kids came along, and my wife transferred the shorter one to use in her classroom. Like yours, the box expired long before the tree. Eventually, after being packed and unpacked so many times, even the tree began to look a bit worse for wear, and we finally discarded it.
Thank you, Dennis. Since we’re downsizing, this one may also have to go. It didn’t make it upstairs this Christmas time.
Lovely memory and cute little tree 💕
Thank you, Kelly. I’m amazed I still have it!
A super post, Joy. What a treasure.
Wow, thanks, John!
I LOVE the photo of you and Favorite Guy into each other’s eyes!
And we got married six months later!
That showed in your faces!
So very cool that you still have that artificial tree. I doubt a new one would last 60 years. That little tree has lots of treasured memories.
It sure does. Thank you, Alan.
There’s quite a memory evoker for you. What a sweet little tree. Surprised you still have it and it still looks good. I’ve been through a number of artificial trees in my life. Hopefully the current one is the last.
Eilene, I’m also surprised I still have it! Maybe it’s because we haven’t moved in 49 years?
Nice tree, Joy, and amazing to me that you still have it. Have a merry Christmas season.
I’m amazed as well, Tim, but we’ve lived here 49 years and have a big basement. And we’re trying to downsize.
That’s life, Joy.
That is a cute (and well preserved!) little tree, Joy. If it weren’t so nice, you could put a Charlie Brown figure next to it. 🙂
Good idea, Nancy!