Handle with Care

A few years ago, my brother Pat moved into his first apartment. Due to fire code regulations, he had to use an artificial tree. We passed down the one from our first apartment to him.

Pat's first family gathering that he hosted was a party to decorate his tree. We all brought some ornaments to start his collection. I found some elongated balls at the Philadelphia Christmas Village that reminded me of my Grandma, so I bought them.

The following year, Dan and Shannon had their own tree. They bought it after two hospital stays for Dan. When people wanted to give him things when he got home, he declined most offers of food but did ask for ornaments. I had already purchased him an ornament in Disney, but after that I kind of went a little bit overboard buying ornaments. (But really, how many times can you say that your brother pulled off a miracle?) Even though my brothers are grown up now, I sometimes feel like I have to get them similar things, so I also went back to the Christmas Village. I got him some the same ornaments I got Pat, but in different shades. (Pat's are more primary colored, Dan's are more muted.) It seemed like everyone else went a little crazy with the ornament purchases that year. They had a gorgeous tree. It shined with love of family and friends, and of hope for a better year.

Dan was determined to get his Christmas on that year. I couldn't believe how much shopping he did and how well he held up after being in the hospital for such an extended period of time. He actually made fun of me for being so far behind in my Christmas preparations in 2012. (Commuting between DE and PA for hospital visits for a week will do that!) he called me several times when he was shopping that year, to exchange ideas.

Things changed again in 2013, and Dan ended up spending Christmas with our parents. I think they bought their biggest tree to date that year. (Pat named it Treezilla.) They didn't have enough ornaments to decorate Treezilla so they used some of Dan's. It was nice to see the elongated balls shining on the tree. A little bit of Grandma, a little bit of hope. Mom kept Dan's ornaments separate for him to use again someday. He was determined to get better and have his own tree again in 2014.

I went back to the Christmas Village this year and I saw the wall of ornaments. The trees have changed over time (Pat replaced our 14 year old tree this year) and the cast of characters at our Christmases has evolved. Even though I didn't want to set up the tree at all this year, I actually did it a little earlier than usual. I unpacked a few ornaments that Dan had given me over the years that had hung on trees on 3rd Street, two homes in DE, and are now back in PA 10 years later.  They remind me that he is still here. Not in a piece of plastic or on a glass ball.  But in the memories that we have, and the stories we share.