There are moments in life that remind us just how powerfully connected we are to the past. This November, I had the incredible honor of witnessing such a moment when my dear friends Shawn and Michael Albert’s tree in West Stockbridge was selected as the 2024 Rockefeller Christmas tree.

For years, our families shared a tradition that marked the start of the holiday season. Every winter when the boys were little, my sons Connor and Andy would join Shawn and Michael’s boys—Evan, Brendan, and Andrew—at the local tree farm. It was more than just picking out trees; it was an annual get together, the boys racing between evergreens, and of course I always snapped a few pics.

Fast forward to today. The boys are growing up and moving in lots of different directions. Yet, this season brought the McCormacks and the Alberts back together for a full-circle moment. We spent years trying to find the right tree together, but all along the most perfect tree was Shawn and Michael’s Norway Spruce, standing proud and tall in their family’s yard, chosen to be the most iconic Christmas Tree in the world, the one to stand in Rockefeller Center for millions to see.

But the story of this tree is more than just its journey to New York City. It began in 1967, when Michael’s parents, Earl and Leslie Albert, planted it as newlyweds. It was a symbol of hope and new beginnings, growing alongside their family through decades of holidays. Leslie, in particular, had a special connection to the tree. She loved Christmas. Stringing lights around its branches until it was too tall and watching as her grandchildren played under it.

In 2020, just days after Lesley’s passing, the Albert family received an unexpected visit that would forever tie her legacy to this special spruce. The head gardener for the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree had scouted the tree came to their door and asked if theirs could one day be the iconic centerpiece in New York City. It was as if Lesley had orchestrated it from above, ensuring that her tree would share its beauty and spirit with millions.

As the chainsaw buzzed I had this thought – it is not just the cutting of a tree; it’s a tribute to generations of love, family, and traditions that shape who we are. This tree will soon stand in Rockefeller Center, aglow with thousands of lights, watched by visitors from all over the world. But for those of us who know its Berkshire roots, it will always be more than just a Christmas tree.

Stay tuned, on December 4th, we will accompany the Alberts to the lighting of the tree. It’s going to be so special and I can’t wait.