Erin’s present came today, so I went to Walgreen’s.

• Slightly haggard four-foot artificial tree: $14.99
• Moderately cheesy 7-light star: $7.99
• Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed-Reindeer “Abominable Snowman” ornament: $5.99
• Gold bead garland far too long for tree: $1.99
• Box of old-fashioned glass Christmas balls: $1.99
• Box of ornament hooks: $.69
• Look on Erin’s face when she discovered we actually had a tree after all: priceless.