12-03-2009, 08:13 PM
We always have an "all of the above" tree too, though we call it a christmas tree despite being non-christians (it has a nice ring to it). I definitely relate to the shrinking family gathering loss of "sparkle". My mother passed away just over a year ago (the last of our living parents so we are both orphans now) and last year was the first year in a decade or so without having her as part of the family gathering. We will still have a nice christmas morning and our kids will both be here, but it won't be the same.