On the first day of Christmas…
Over the next 12 days — counting down to the 25th of December, in other words — Free Press sports writer Helene St. James will be bringing you a daily dose of Red Wings Christmas Cheer — from the best gift Brad Stuart got as a kid to what Kris Draper likes to do on Christmas Eve.
Chris Osgood kicks off the First Day of Red Wings Christmas Cheer. He put up his tree, estimated at 9 feet, at the start of the month, with a little help from daughters Mackenzie, 8, and Sydney, 4.
Q: How was putting up the tree?
A: It’s hard work. We have a fake tree, so I have to get in there and get all the branches just right to make the tree look perfect. I was in there bending branches left and right. I had to put my gloves on.
Q: But it looked great in the end, right?
A: Honestly, I could work at Saks — I’m that good at putting up Christmas trees and decorating them. I’ve really got a touch, I really have.
Q: You did have some help from your daughters in putting on ornaments, no?
A: Oh, yeah. Their favorite part is actually jumping off the ladder after they’ve put on the ornaments. They have their own little tree in their playroom, where all their princess stuff is, but they like putting their ornaments on our big tree, so it’s all a mishmash now, which I like.
Q: What do you like to listen to while you’re decorating?
A: My favorite Christmas song is “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby. I just love it.
Q: Any favorite Christmas shows?
A: Yeah, “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty, the Snowman,” just because they’re classics. When I was young I couldn’t wait for them to come on TV at Christmas. I’d get scared from the abominable snowman in Rudolph, but I loved Yukon Cornelius.
(via freep)
