“Oh Christmas Tree”- a Tribute to Stan Lynch

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It was only fitting that the most recent column that our beloved Stan Lynch wrote about was on Christmas trees and the joy they bring to all of us.

Like Christmas trees, Stan brought us much joy through the years. He was a wonderful man who lived life to the fullest sharing his kindness and love to the last day that he lived on this earth.

He volunteered his time at so many places including the Christmas tree lot. Much like Frosty the Snowman, Stan brought out the life in all of us.

Stan LynchStan’s face was always “aglow” when he talked with others. His eyes “twinkled” with kindness and caring towards others. He always saw the goodness in others, especially in his son and two granddaughters who he loved and adored.

He always found time to enrich the lives of others by simply being the person God created him to be. At the “Holiday in the Park” festival on Magnolia Blvd. this past November, Stan sat there at the “myBurbank” booth proudly and with much pride as the managing editor for myBurbank greeting everyone who walked by.

Little did we know that Stan was spreading his love from his heart one final time to all of us.

As Stan so appropriately wrote in his final sentence in the story below- “and that’s just one more neat thing about Christmas trees — they are not only beautiful, but they help spread goodwill.”

Like a Christmas tree, Stan was a beautiful man who spread goodwill his entire life. And for that, we say “Thank you, Stan.”

By Stan Lynch, Managing Editor

When we think of Christmas trees, most of us probably see that beautifully decorated tree, all aglow with twinkling lights and shiny ornaments. From giant trees like the National Christmas Tree in Washington D.C. to the small table top trees, they all convey a certain magic when decorated.

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)
(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Getting from “just a tree” to being a Christmas tree is quite a transformation — as I learned last week when I volunteered to help at my church’s Christmas tree lot. The very first thing I learned is that Christmas trees are heavy.

Some of the 6-7 ft. noble fir trees are probably close to 40 or 50 lbs. in weight. I’m guessing on the weight because I don’t normally pick up anything that weighs 40 or 50 lbs. I also found out that douglas fir trees are lighter than the nobles. They are bushy looking, too. Not at all like the old douglas fir trees we got when I was a kid. And then there are the nordman trees with needles that are light green on the bottom and dark green on the top of each branch.

YMCA Tree Lot -2
(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

It would take one strong person, or me and someone else, to carry one over to the special sawhorses where an inch or two of the trunk would be cut off. Even with a chainsaw, it is a tricky operation. If the trunk isn’t cut straight, the tree will lean.

Once the tree is checked to make sure it is straight, the stand and water bowl are nailed in place. Then it is carried over and placed with the rows of trees for sale. one final touch, adding water.

Now watering may seem like a simple task. As a novice tree lot worker, I was down on my hands and knees lifting up branches to fill the water bowls. On my second time at the lot, a nice lady showed me the trick to watering. You stick the long snout of the water into the branches until you hit the trunk. Then carefully pour the water so it cascades down the tree and into the bowl. With proper watering, a Christmas tree should last three to four weeks

YMCA Tree Lot -1
(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

It obviously isn’t an easy task to pick the perfect Christmas tree with all the different types and sizes.  When a customer would ask my opinion, I would always go with the safe answer and suggest they get the “green” tree.

All the profits from trees sold at this lot go to help programs for children. Other groups, like the YMCA and Burbank High, do the same, selling trees to benefit their various programs. And that’s just one more neat thing about Christmas trees — they are not only beautiful, but they help spread goodwill.

    Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center