Like everyone else Christmas is a special season of the year for Kate and me. We used to do all the things that usually accompany the season. Kate always loved these things, decorating the house, shopping for just the right gifts, and sending Christmas cards. Over the years, we have done less. Sending Christmas cards was the first thing to go. I don’t recall exactly when that happened. I am reasonably sure it preceded Kate’s diagnosis. Come to think of it, that might have been one of the earliest signs of her AD. I do know that it was things like that that caused me to recognize she was making changes that didn’t match her long-standing personality.
Since the diagnosis, decorating the house had become a priority only when we were entertaining during the Christmas season. We gave up hosting any Christmas events several years ago. For several Christmases, we have done next to no decorating. It was never something that I had been actively involved with. My responsibility was the tree and in the past four or five years an additional tree in the front yard. Our area garden club sponsors an annual Christmas tree sale and encourages everyone to put a Christmas tree in our front yards near the street. Apart from that and a wreath, I don’t think we put up any decorations last year. I know we haven’t had a real tree for a while.
This year, I felt like I should take the lead and do a little more. First, I tried to convince Kate to help by locating our decorations and going with me to buy a few things. She wasn’t interested; so I took care of this myself. I bought a new wreath and put it on the front door. I bought some red bows and ribbons and attached them to some greenery and put one in each of the windows on the front of the house. Yesterday afternoon, I also put up the outdoor tree and the lights. I located a small artificial tabletop tree for a table in the family room. I found several hangers for the mantel. Now if I can only find the stockings, we’ll be set. Years ago, Kate had bought a 3-foot Santa that she has always placed in the family room. I have done that. This is only a tenth of what Kate used to do, but it is something, and we plan to enjoy the Christmas season. We would have done that anyway, but I am thinking this may be the last Christmas that Kate will be able to appreciate. I’d like it to look a little like Christmas.
