--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My other chore is to buy a tree- a…" description: "\"“My other chore is to buy a tree- a thankless task. The only truly well-proportioned Christmas trees are the ones they use in advertisements. If you tr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/michael-robotham-7931_christmas-tree_my-other-chore-is-to-buy-a-tree-a-thankl_388392.jpg" --- # My other chore is to buy a tree- a thankless task. The… ![“My other chore is to buy a tree- a thankless task. The only truly well-proportioned Christmas trees are the ones they use in advertisements. If you try and find one in real life you face inevitable disapointment. Your tree will lean to the left or the right. It will be too bushy at the base, or…” quote by Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/michael-robotham-7931_christmas-tree_my-other-chore-is-to-buy-a-tree-a-thankl_388392.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/michael-robotham-7931_christmas-tree_my-other-chore-is-to-buy-a-tree-a-thankl_388392.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/michael-robotham-7931_christmas-tree_my-other-chore-is-to-buy-a-tree-a-thankl_388392.jpg) > ““My other chore is to buy a tree- a thankless task. The only truly well-proportioned Christmas trees are the ones they use in advertisements. If you try and find one in real life you face inevitable disapointment. Your tree will lean to the left or the right. It will be too bushy at the base, or straggly at the top. Even if you do, by some miracle, find a perfect tree, if won't fit in the car and by the time you strap it to the rooftop and drive it home the branches are broken and twisted out of shape. You wrestle it through the door, gagling on pine needles and sweating profusely, only to hear the maddening question from countless Christmases past: 'Is that really the best one you could find?”” [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The pursuit of the ideal Christmas tree is futile; real trees inevitably fall short of advertised perfection, leading to frustration and self‑doubt. **In simple terms:** Perfect trees are a myth; accept imperfections. Key Takeaway Embrace the imperfect tree and focus on the holiday spirit. Themes holiday expectations imperfection consumerism Mood frustrated nostalgic reflective Type observational humorous When to use this quote - family gatherings - home decorating - holiday shopping - gift giving Key Concepts Idealization disappointment nostalgia Questions to Reflect On - Do you prioritize appearance over experience? - How can you find joy despite imperfections? A Different Perspective The quote romanticizes the ideal and ignores practical solutions like artificial trees. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christmas tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-tree/) [Christmas Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-trees/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees/) ## Related quotes > [“He offered me his free hand, clear blue eyes sparkling. "Come on...let's go find ourselves the perfect tree." 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Some cities will always remain wrapped boxes, containers of riddles never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/some-cities-like-wrapped-boxes-under-christmas-trees-conceal/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“The human life cycle no less than evolves around the box; from the open-topped box called a bassinet, to the pine box we call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/the-human-life-cycle-no-less-than-evolves-around-the-box-from-the/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [The best Christmas trees come very close to exceeding nature. If some of our great decorated trees had been grown in a remote forest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/the-best-christmas-trees-come-very-close-to-exceeding-nature-if-some/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [On the morning, Daddy and I get up at six o'clock because Christmas trees must be bought in the dark. 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We've someway always felt alike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/you-remember-how-homesick-i-used-to-get-and-what-long-talks-we-used/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [ “Like almost all of Beefheart's recorded work, \[Trout Mask Replica\] was not even "ahead" of its time in 1969. Then and now, it stands… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/like-almost-all-of-beefheart-s-recorded-work-trout-mask-replica-was/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [“It still feels weird to spend money on Christmas trees. Back when Mom was alive, we’d go out “tree hunting.” That’s what she called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/it-still-feels-weird-to-spend-money-on-christmas-trees-back-when-mom/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) ## More by Michael Robotham > [“Here you can shoot the bad guys,' a mercenary says in Baghdad. 'In America we give them corporate bonuses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/here-you-can-shoot-the-bad-guys-a-mercenary-says-in-baghdad-in/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [“His freckles have faded but must riot every summer across his nose and cheeks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/his-freckles-have-faded-but-must-riot-every-summer-across-his-nose/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [“It's strange, talking about love. I used to hate the word. Hate is too strong. I was sick of reading about it in books,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/it-s-strange-talking-about-love-i-used-to-hate-the-word-hate-is-too/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [“She is more memory than reality. She belongs to a time of teenage crushes, first kisses, crowded lecture halls and smoky pubs. 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They expect me to face autumns and winters like that and bitch-slap them down; make them come to heel.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/everyone-thinks-i-m-so-strong-they-expect-me-to-face-autumns-and/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [“We need the darkness to appreciate the light, and the bumps along the road to stop us falling asleep at the wheel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/we-need-the-darkness-to-appreciate-the-light-and-the-bumps-along-the/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [Why do our parents have the ability to make us feel like children even when our hair is graying and we have a mortgage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/why-do-our-parents-have-the-ability-to-make-us-feel-like-children/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [“Truth is a matter of semantics, whether we like it or not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/truth-is-a-matter-of-semantics-whether-we-like-it-or-not/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [“I've discovered the secret of revenge. Outlive the f---ers! I'll dance on their graves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/i-ve-discovered-the-secret-of-revenge-outlive-the-f-ers-i-ll-dance-on/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [“Do you believe in God?” he asks. “Do you?” “I used to” “What happened?” “I couldn’t find him. He’s supposed to be everywhere. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/do-you-believe-in-god-he-asks-do-you-i-used-to-what-happened-i-couldn/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [“People talk about the sins of omission. What does that mean? Who decides if something is a sin? I know that I'm being semantic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/people-talk-about-the-sins-of-omission-what-does-that-mean-who/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [“It was the most important moment in human history, the telling of the first lie. That's what separates us from the other animals. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/it-was-the-most-important-moment-in-human-history-the-telling-of-the/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [“Friendship is a difficult thing to define. Oscar here is my oldest friend. How would you define friendship, Oscar?" Oscar grunts slightly, as though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/friendship-is-a-difficult-thing-to-define-oscar-here-is-my-oldest/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) [Explore all 82 Michael Robotham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) ## More Christmas tree quotes > [Don't measure the height of your Christmas tree. Measure the abundance of the love present in your heart! Have a Blessed Christmas!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-measure-the-height-of-your-christmas-tree-measure-the-abundance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [November, I'll give thanks that you belong to me. December, you're the present beneath my Christmas tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/november-i-ll-give-thanks-that-you-belong-to-me-december-you-re-the/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [“It still feels weird to spend money on Christmas trees. Back when Mom was alive, we’d go out “tree hunting.” That’s what she called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/it-still-feels-weird-to-spend-money-on-christmas-trees-back-when-mom/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-ve-learned-that-you-can-tell-a-lot-about-a-person-by-the-way-he-she/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [ “Like almost all of Beefheart's recorded work, \[Trout Mask Replica\] was not even "ahead" of its time in 1969. Then and now, it stands… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/like-almost-all-of-beefheart-s-recorded-work-trout-mask-replica-was/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [“Also, I was living in the middle of my parents' marriage. No one ever says this about families, and maybe people who aren't only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/also-i-was-living-in-the-middle-of-my-parents-marriage-no-one-ever/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [I played guitar from the age of four or five. Every year there would be a slightly larger triangular box under the Christmas tree,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-marr/i-played-guitar-from-the-age-of-four-or-five-every-year-there-would/) [Johnny Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-marr/) > [Christmas tree stands are the work of the devil and they want you dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/christmas-tree-stands-are-the-work-of-the-devil-and-they-want-you-dead/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [“You remember how homesick I used to get, and what long talks we used to have coming from school? 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This is not how he planned this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aggybird/rudy-draws-his-knees-up-and-wraps-his-hands-around-his-legs-laughing/) [aggybird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aggybird/) [Browse all 290 Christmas tree quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-tree/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“My other chore is to buy a tree- a thankless task. The only truly well-proportioned Christmas trees are the ones they use in advertisements. If you try and find one in real life you face inevitable disapointment. Your tree will lean to the left or the right. It will be too bushy at the base, or straggly at the top. Even if you do, by some miracle, find a perfect tree, if won't fit in the car and by the time you strap it to the rooftop and drive it home the branches are broken and twisted out of shape. 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