The children have been eager to decorate the tree ever since we picked it out at the Boy Scout lot down the street the other day. We put them off until tonight.
After a hearty vegetarian chili dinner, we pull the boxes of decorations from the basement and set to work.
There are the usual challenges: untangling the lights, finding the hooks,
unpacking the glass balls
and other ornaments.
Remarkably, only one ball is broken.
There are also stockings to unfold
and a star to be placed on the top of the tree. Twice.
By the end, the tree is practically dripping with ornaments
and we are all remembering other trees, in this house and others, with these people and with others, as we climb the stairs to sleep.
knitting a life 
Twice…
: )