Fake Christmas trees aren’t about to overtake real ones in annual sales, but they have been increasing their market share in recent years. While I’m a big fan of realness (two of the three trees in my house this year fit the bill, including a beautiful Leyland Cypress), the increase in artificial sales was probably inevitable, in part because of the increasing share of U.S. households likely find them adequate more convenient — that is, households of singles, retirees, and others who don’t have children.

I don’t think I’ll ever get there, however. It took me long enough to get used to the idea that I shouldn’t go out in the woods and cut my own tree, but instead let someone else do it. Still feel funny about it.