My wife has a close friend whose sister is struggling with cancer (32 years young). The other night my wife came to me upset after a conversation with her friend about how they felt the sister was going to see her last Christmas this year. The sister and husband are moving back to the area on Saturday to live close by with family. I asked my wife if there was anything we could do and she mentioned how the sister wanted a real Christmas tree for Christmas. I said to my wife lets do it! Do what what she said? Lets get the tree and everything that goes along with it and have it set-up for them when they arrive in their new place on Saturday. My wife was shocked by the offer and immediately called her friend for permission. After a series of calls we finally got the green light.
The next day my wife went out and bought a whole slew of ornaments. I went out to get the tree. I must have taken a good couple of hours picking out the perfect tree. I chose a beautiful 7-8' Fraser Fir, grabbed a stand and off I went. I have never been so driven to do something for someone.
On the way over I got the call to stop off at a relatives house to pick up some of the family's ornaments. When I arrived, the family could not thank me enough. I wish I could do more! I picked up the box and headed to the house.
I finally got to the house where my wife was waiting and the landlord let us in to get to work. I brought the tree up 2 flights of stairs as the landlord tells me not to scrape the walls because he just painted (no help offered just advice, thanks!) Anyway, I get the tree settled in its stand and cut away the netting to release one beautiful looking Christmas tree. We put on the lights by the hundreds. The tree is as bright as the North Star! Then comes the ornaments, I open the box and it is like a family history. Ornaments that the kids made, places traveled, Nana's ornaments etc. We took care to make sure everything was carefully placed and chock full of memories.
We finally finished the tree and stood back and turned on the lights. The warmth from the glow of the lights was amazing. I am a strong person but the site of the tree and the emotion from the situation really got me choked up. I felt really good about what we had done.
I do not know the sister, I hope that when she sees the tree for the first time that it gives her some relief/joy in an otherwise overwhelming situation.
Life is so fragile, I am the first one that takes it for granted sometimes. This is the first Christmas in a long time that I felt that I have experienced the holiday the way it was supposed to be!
Merry Christmas!!
The next day my wife went out and bought a whole slew of ornaments. I went out to get the tree. I must have taken a good couple of hours picking out the perfect tree. I chose a beautiful 7-8' Fraser Fir, grabbed a stand and off I went. I have never been so driven to do something for someone.
On the way over I got the call to stop off at a relatives house to pick up some of the family's ornaments. When I arrived, the family could not thank me enough. I wish I could do more! I picked up the box and headed to the house.
I finally got to the house where my wife was waiting and the landlord let us in to get to work. I brought the tree up 2 flights of stairs as the landlord tells me not to scrape the walls because he just painted (no help offered just advice, thanks!) Anyway, I get the tree settled in its stand and cut away the netting to release one beautiful looking Christmas tree. We put on the lights by the hundreds. The tree is as bright as the North Star! Then comes the ornaments, I open the box and it is like a family history. Ornaments that the kids made, places traveled, Nana's ornaments etc. We took care to make sure everything was carefully placed and chock full of memories.
We finally finished the tree and stood back and turned on the lights. The warmth from the glow of the lights was amazing. I am a strong person but the site of the tree and the emotion from the situation really got me choked up. I felt really good about what we had done.
I do not know the sister, I hope that when she sees the tree for the first time that it gives her some relief/joy in an otherwise overwhelming situation.
Life is so fragile, I am the first one that takes it for granted sometimes. This is the first Christmas in a long time that I felt that I have experienced the holiday the way it was supposed to be!
Merry Christmas!!
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