I lived with my parents, two brothers, one sister, and our dog, Lady, in a modest two-story colonial home in Pittsfield. My backyard was adjacent to a nine-acre nirvana called Osceola Park. At the park hilltop, there stood a great patch of evergreens.
Looking north from my kitchen window, I could see these snow-covered evergreens brightly reflecting the park’s winter night lights. I thought many of these trees would make a perfect Christmas tree because of their symmetrical shape and distinct, pronounced scent.
One December in 1958, when I was 10 years old, I announced to my family that I would get a saw, cut down one of these trees, and bring it home as a Christmas present. I explained to them that an integral part of Osceola Park would soon enhance our Holiday spirit. This tree would look even more attractive once the strands of tinsel, hanging decorations, and Christmas lights were upon it.
My parents said that even though Osceola Park abutted our property line, I didn’t have the right to cut anything down despite my connection to it. The park and I were one, and I didn’t quite understand and was thus disappointed. I surmised that our family would get a Christmas tree elsewhere. Life then went on for a few days more.
I earned spending money from my Berkshire Eagle newspaper delivery route in Pittsfield. I would routinely spend much of it on delicacies such as candy, gum, soda, and comic books at Hanna’s, our friendly neighborhood store on Route 20 in Pittsfield.
It dawned on me that Hanna’s was now selling fresh-cut Christmas trees and I thought that if I bought a tree there, there would be a small connection to Osceola Park, since the store was so close to our house and the park.
Without hesitation, I marched upstairs to my bedroom to my bank, which was a pile of greenbacks stuffed under my mattress. I carefully counted the money, and it surprisingly tallied to nine dollars.
So, I put on my winter clothing and quickly walked to Hanna’s with our dog, Lady. I was intent on making a grand purchase that late December day. However, I was concerned that the tree choices would be limited and that I might get stuck buying a poorly formed, unattractive tree.
When I got to Hanna’s, the gregarious Hanna clan greeted me. Calex, Freddie, Honcho, and Mama likely assumed that I’d be purchasing my usual gastric treasures. However, I surprised them and said, “today I’m shopping for your best seven-foot-high Christmas tree. I have nine bucks to spend and am prepared to use it all. I’ll find a beauty and drag it home today.”
As I looked around the tree stand for a magnificent tree, one caught my eye. It was a balsam fir tree that was tall and narrow with barrel-shaped greenish-brown pine cones. The tree needles were flat, shiny, and dark green. I handed Calex my nine dollars.
Calex looked at me forlornly and told me that I did not have enough money and that I should make another selection. He said that the price of this glorious evergreen was seventeen dollars and that he was hoping to bring it home if it didn’t sell. This tree fondly reminded him of the cedar trees native to his Lebanese homeland.
Of course, I was deflated and sad and told Calex that I had no other money available. Calex listened and became quiet as if pondering something. In a short time, he developed a twinkle in his eye and a slight grin on his aged face.
He remembered how that very summer my rag-tag crew dragged a mess of recently cut willow tree branches from his store parking lot. We hauled them away because I loved all trees and planned to replant them in my yard. We performed this hot, dusty work for him at no charge. (I’ve referred to Hanna’s Neighborhood Store in a previous Osceola Park Memories Facebook Page story My Green Thumb published May 1, 2021.)
Calex said that in fairness, he should have paid me to move this tree debris and that he owed me eight dollars for that effort. Furthermore, he noted that due to our labors, he now had extra room outside his store to display and sell Christmas trees.
Combining my nine dollars with his in-kind donation meant that I now had enough funds to afford that exceptional balsam tree! What’s more, he then went to his nearby house and gave me a handmade Lebanese ornament in the shape of a cedar tree.
We both smiled and shook hands as newly found business partners should. My good endeavor for Calex that summer day engendered his good deed for me that December day. I excitedly hurried along as I proudly paraded my prize tree to my home.
To this day, I still remember Calex’s benevolent sunny smile and still envision his ornament glistening on our Christmas tree during that Yuletide season.
