Random acts

The town where I live has an abundance of juniper trees growing in groups and as singles all over the place. Most of the year they are simply a source of the pollen that makes many people suffer allergic reactions. At this time of year, however, they turn into Christmas trees.

On the route from my office in the north part of town to my home in the west part of town, one stretch of road sports a whole herd of perfectly shaped juniper trees -- some older and taller, some shorter, some fuller, some with sparser folliage. They stand on a slight slope, about 20-25 feet from the roadway.

As soon as the Thanksgiving turkey has been finished, unknown elves -- or others filled with the Christmas spirit -- stealthily approach first one tree and then another.

First, silver garland rings one tree. Then a day or two later another tree shows off gold garland and red ball ornaments. Over the course of a week or two, virtually every tree is adorned for the season.

You never see the tree-decorating in progress. I suppose it must occur in the dead of night when there are no witnesses. Whatever the hour of the decorating, the Christmas spirit as displayed on these roadside trees greets all of us caught in rush hour traffic.

I love these random acts of kindness and good cheer. Someone chooses not only to decorate their own tree, but also to provide decoration to public trees that we all can enjoy.

Don't you just delight in this sort of giving?! Happy holidays!