It's beginning to look a lot like. . .

At 5 a.m. tomorrow, this homemade trailer will rumble northward to rural Hinckley for its annual load of fresh-cut Christmas trees. When our friend Matt Drees built this custom tree hauler a couple of decades ago, he had no way of knowing that Drees Trees would become such a popular local holiday tradition for so many in his hometown.

MATT DREES
For some, it's just not Christmas
until they've seen this man.

Customers have stood by him for all those years, and he has stood by them; upon request, he'll even "flock" your tree, a treatment that went out of style years ago, but hangs on with some traditionalists who love that retro look.
This year's crop will arrive back at his little Shakopee farm near here sometime tomorrow afternoon, and soon thereafter eager customers will begin carefully picking and choosing "the perfect tree," in a timeless sorting ritual that brings Christmas nostalgia to so many. From dawn 'til after dark, Matt will mingle among them, greet old friends, hold up trees, and take care of business.
Matt often wonders aloud how many more years he'll be doing this; he's comfortably retired and has plenty of easier things he could do instead. But we suspect he enjoys this Christmas tree fol-de-rol just as much as do his loyal patrons, who count on him to play his patient role in the annual pageant.