Christmas Tree Dead: Tales From Koreatown.

Along the sidewalk, among the stains and cracks, was a small Christmas Tree. No tinsel or ornaments, just a bare and lonely tree. Laying on its side unable to move, with no water in sight, the once beautiful Christmas Tree didn't have much longer to live. The needles slowly dropped from its branches. It sacrificed itself to give someone -- maybe even a whole family -- aesthetic pleasure during the holiday season. The young tree rose to the occasion and provided decoration during a time of love, joy and happiness. And now, after its purpose was served, the helpless tree was tossed onto the cold January pavement, left for dead, as if it had never existed. By now, small neighborhood dogs had probably used the Christmas Tree to urinate on. And Koreatown dwellers such as myself had rushed by the tree without notice. If one did look upon the tree, it was only a sudden glance of disgust. "Somebody needs to pick up this thing and dump it into the trash," I thought to myself one night while walking to my apartment after work. It was the first time I noticed the tree -- probably a week or so after Christmas Day. "The person who thoughtlessly tossed this tree onto the sidewalk must be cruel and ignorant." As the thought passed through my mind, I began to pity the pathetic tree. But I did nothing, and kept walking. That's life, I suppose. Each morning as I'm driving to work, I look to the streets and see many old Christmas trees left on the curb for dead. Used then abandoned. A sign that another season has passed. Let me fall asleep and awake the day after Thanksgiving. Sign me up, sweetheart. I simply can't wait.