Christmas Past 2009, 9

9. Christmas had always been a very familiar and private celebration in our family. We are always together at home, go to church, and then sit around the tree. But last Christmas it was different.

My mother was in hospital and thus we decorated everything as always at home, but it was strange to do it without my mother. On Christmas Eve we all drove to the hospital and cooked in its kitchen with her. Later we sat there with other people who had to stay in hospital over Christmas and drank tea with them.

It was strange not to celebrate at home, but with people we didn't know. But at the same time all of us felt happy that we could give something to the hospital and its patients. Some of them didn't have any visitors and so that Christmas we were able to bring some love to our neighbours.