RED ROSE...Symbol of Love and Care

You're thinking this is about a gorgeous, red rose. Well, in a way it is...the red rose symbolizes love and care. However, today's thoughts are wrapped around the 'old timey' ice cycles that we hung on our 10' christmas trees during my childhood.
Our family was steeped in tradition, holidays topping the list. We lived in Waco and the old Farmer's Market down on Dallas St. was great!!
They carried produce all year around, but at Christmas time, they had a tremendous selection of trees.
Mother, Jim (my brother, 8 years older) and I would go and hunt. Jim would pick one out, pull it from the bunch, tamp it on the ground, spread the limbs and slowly twirl it so we could judge it on a 1-10 scale. The lucky winner had to be at least 10' tall to touch the old country home's ceiling in the living room and exhibit near perfect roundness all over. Final selection made, it was stuffed in the trunk or tied on top of the car and motored out to the farm.
The trip involved winding country gravel roads and as you made your final approach to our house on the hill, you initiated an "S" curve. Once you made that slow roll around the first curve to the left, you could lift your eyes to see the tip top of the old white house with the large television antenna sticking up in the air! To your right, you faced a pond in the corner of the pasture where the dairy cows watered frequently and, finally, you slipped around the two last curves to enter the long, uphill driveway to arrive at the back of our house.
The grand tree was always placed in front of the big 'ol front door and anchored with a piece of twine (most of the years) that ran from wall to wall with the top of the tree nestled against the support. and then, it began. Jim was the meticulous, slow 'have to do things right' guy. I was an 8 year old excited too death over Christmas kid. We placed each 'ball' in the perfect spot, most of mine were coached by his keen eye! And, finally came....THE ICE C Y C L E S! Skinny, shimmering, exciting and aggravating as could be to me. The tree decorating 'coach' began by saying, "Now, Pat, take these one at a time and hang it on the end of the branch." I would reply, "Okie dokie!" My one at a time lasted for about one minute.
Bah, humbug, what a rediculous expectation. Hey, you could take several (in a bunch) cock your arm with hand behind your ear and throttle them at warp speed at the BIG TREE!! Worked like a charm for me, until...I got caught!! Yes, my ultimatum was hang them the RIGHT way or hit the HIGHWAY. Most of the time, I chose the highway...one at a slow time was not meshing with my young, excited Christmas spirit! But, we had the most gorgeous tree in all of Waco, I do know that!
What does this have to do with me today? One at a slow time, that's what. I can't rush this process I'm in at the moment. I have to mind my p's and q's, stay on track and keep my eye on the distant goal. Short term goals in the meantime are highly beneficial, but the prize is waiting at the end. And, who knows, that tree turned out great every season due to sticking to THE PLAN...maybe I will shimmer as much as those ice cycles.
Bottom line for me today --
One day at time, one meal at a time and one pound at a time!
Is there something you should slow down and do 'the right way?' If so, get a round tuit!