Finding Christmas Hope

Mom, who had been a very unhappy camper after breaking a hip, remained gloomy as she was transported to a rehab facility on Christmas Eve. Upon entering the building, I asked the medics to stop for a few seconds so she could observe the lovely décor, yet she gave no reaction to the tastefulness of the interior decorating.  Similarly, she showed no reaction to the window of her room which overlooked a forest. It was like a scene in a bad Hallmark holiday movie.

I made haste to bring Christmas cheer to her spacious room posting holiday cards on a small bulletin board and dropping bouquets into vases. Mancave decorating – hold the bouquet over the vase, cut the rubber band, quickly drop the flowers into the vase.  Mom perked up saying: “I want to design it.”  Imagine a 94-year hold lady in a hospital bed, the narrow dinner table rolled over that bed, creating with delight.  Mom smiled for the first time in months, satisfied by again enjoying a hobby she had engaged in for a lifetime.  Mom, after hitting the bottom in a medical crisis, was a phoenix rising above the ashes of despair. A Christmas, almost missed, had arrived in fragrant glory.