Most of us are ready to get home to our families and friends for a much needed break, a time for us to relax and not think about assignments, exams or going to class. Remember though that breaks don’t last forever, so don’t just sleep the entire time. Get out and do something with family, friends or even yourself.

For me, Christmas is not about the presents (of course they’re nice) or the material things, but it’s about family.

My family is what keeps me grounded, although I am not always level headed or nice, my family is there for me. So Christmas is important because my extended family gathers at my grandparents’ home for Christmas Eve celebrations. It is a night filled with catching up, laughter and merry times.

Christmas, however, revolves around a single decoration, a decoration we see everywhere. To me, it is not Christmas until we have our tree up and it is decorated with ornaments and lights.

There’s something special about a real Christmas tree – the aroma, the beauty, the color, the shape – and, of course, the tradition of hunting for the perfect one. One that everyone agrees on. That’s the hard part!

My roommates Arielle, Donya and I went to Bennie’s Nursery and Tree Farm on Barziloski Road right off of Keilersburg road in Tunkhannock. There are many signs that lead you to the farm. Bennie’s is open dawn to dusk until Christmas Eve. It offers many shapes, sizes and types of trees including Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Concolor Fir and others.

Bennie’s dates back to 1932, which was the year Ben Barziloski planted the first tree on the homestead farm and the family’s tree business has thrived since then. It is still operated by the Barziloski family, and you can tell it is a family-run business. The staff at Bennie’s is experienced, helpful and pleasant. We had an awesome time on the farm hunting for the perfect tree. Bennie’s employees were there to help and make the Christmas tree experience one to remember.

When we arrived at the farm we figured out our game plan and then acquired our saw. Then we were off on the hunt for the perfect tree. We were given instructions from our other roommate, Savannah, who couldn’t make it, to get a pretty tree, one with softer needles. What is a pretty tree, anyway? Well, we all can tell you what a pretty tree looks like. For Donya it was a short plump one; Arielle wanted something that didn’t look like the Charlie Brown tree; and for me the tree had to be very proportional and, of course, not as plump as the one Donya wanted.

Surprisingly, the hunt didn’t take as long as we thought, although we did cover most of the property looking at all the trees. It was funny. One of us would suggest a tree and two us would be like, “Uhh no, I don’t think so.” The hunt ended when we got back to where we started and I found the perfect tree. However, it ended up that both Donya and Arielle had already liked and suggested that same tree when we started. I had turned it down.

So then we started the process of cutting it down, and we all took a turn and really didn’t get anywhere. Thankfully, one of Bennie’s employees came and helped us, and if he hadn’t we might have been there until Christmas. He then helped us carry it off the hill, and workers wrapped it and helped us put it into my vehicle. The trees at Bennie’s are gorgeous and very affordable. Bennie’s also sell beautiful handmade wreaths, swags, log boxes, crosses and several other holiday items.

Choosing a Christmas tree is a great holiday tradition, and this year I was glad to experience it with my roommates.

True, we totally forgot the fact that you cannot have a real tree in the dorms – so the beauty came home with me instead. We decorated it together while we watched Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel and ABC Family and drank hot chocolate. Cliché I know, but what better way to bring in the holiday season than with my school family?

I hope that winter break allows everyone to relax and recuperate with their families and friends. Get out and run wild yourself!