Where are you Christmas (tree)?

My second favorite Christmas tree stands tall and strong in the middle of City Park.

My favorite is my own.

But that second favorite tree? That’s our community’s, and every year during the holiday season it offers us every good thing about the season.

The lights on that tree stand for hope and beauty in a neighborhood that sometimes struggles to find either. I have been known to pause car conversations as I’m driving past the park to say, “I’m going to answer that in one second, but first just treat yourself to a look at that beautiful tree.”

Maybe they roll their eyes a little, but my people always take a look and genuinely appreciate those beautiful moments in their chaotic days.

The tree represents constancy in a world that’s spinning fast. It’s rooted right there where we can find it and, though it shows up on social media sites every now and then, it requires very little technology to operate, just a little electricity and some bulbs.

The tree, given to the city by Appleton Papers in 2007, wears skirts of gorgeous red begonias and purple salvia in the summer. In the winter, it glows with multi-colored lights.

Sadly, and to-date inexplicably, the tree is dark this year. Now it stands like a depressing shadow where once it represented such joy.

I first noticed the empty tree the day before the Christmas parade and I wondered how the city was going to string all those lights on that tree in time. Then, after the parade, I saw that the tree was still dark.

I’ve checked it in the days since, made multiple inquiries from various city entities, but I have not heard back from any official source as to why the tree isn’t lit this year.

I’d like to think we could brainstorm ways to get that tree lit again.

If you have any ideas I’d love to hear them.

In the meantime, please enjoy these pictures of the City Park Christmas Tree I’ve taken through the years, and I’d love to see yours.

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