WASHINGTON -- As she prepares to leave the White House, first lady Laura Bush said Sunday that she hopes the American people don't forget about the people of Afghanistan.

In an interview aired on NBC's "Meet the Press," Mrs. Bush expressed her concerns for Afghan women and girls as the Taliban, which brutally represses women, fights to re-establish itself.

She said there is a "tendency" in the U.S. "to become isolationist," but that she hopes Americans will overcome that and help Afghanistan financially and in other ways.

She told Tom Brokaw that, despite setbacks since the U.S. initially went into Afghanistan, there are rays of hope.

"When I was in Bamiyan this year I met with a governor, female governor, I met with female police officers. Are there--are women afraid to step out and have some of these roles? Sure, to some extent they are. But these sort of happenings are more isolated than they sound when we read about them in the newspaper, because they are so horrific when we read about it," Bush told Brokaw.

On a personal note, she said that when her husband's term ends in January, she'll most miss the people that surround her at the White House. Laura Bush said she and the president "love to laugh with," talk with "and solve problems with" the ushers and butlers and their own staff.

After President George W. Bush's tenure ends, the Bushes plan to return to Texas. They will likely spend their weekdays in Dallas and weekends at their secluded ranch in Crawford.

First Lady Greets White House Tree

Also Sunday, the Bushes took part in another of those events they'll do for the last time. Laura Bush stood outside in the rain to receive this year's White House Christmas tree.

Laura Bush Receives '08 Tree

It's a 20-foot Fraser fir from North Carolina that arrived on a horse-drawn wagon. The tree will decorate the White House Blue Room.

The same tree farm that grew this tree is also providing about 25 smaller trees, including the ones for the offices of the president and vice president.

The first lady said this year's holiday decorating theme will be announced later this week.