The Christmas holiday officially kicks off locally on the first Thursday after Thanksgiving with the Saratoga Springs Victorian Streetwalk. Since 1985, this annual one-night celebration has been the place to be, drawing an average of 20,000 to 30,000 attendees. During the event, Broadway, the main street, is restricted to foot traffic, becoming a vibrant family experience alive with Victorian-themed decorations, music, food, and entertainment. Small children are filled with anticipation, excitedly waiting to see Santa Claus and his live reindeer.  The dense, unpredictable foot traffic of people crisscrossing in random, stop-and-go patterns made it difficult for Matt to navigate with confidence, despite using the quad cane out in public places more often. For this reason, we opted for the walker, perhaps for the very last time. Bundled head to toe, we paused, absorbing the sounds of the Racing City Chorus, a solo singer serenading us with timeless Frank Sinatra tunes, and the vibrant energy of an occasional dance troupe. Matt soaked it all in, a contented smile on his face, truly a joy-filled scene, unimaginable not so long ago.

Since college, Matt has religiously sent birthday, anniversary, and special holiday cards. In his Christmas cards, he would include a typed page reviewing all that was noteworthy. We weren’t there yet, so he chose to send six cards instead. After a discussion about whom and what he might say, I wrote down the simple message for him to copy inside as a personal note. Then, he ordered and wrapped gifts for family members, with help from one of his parents. It was imperative to him to have presents under the tree like everyone else.

Christmas Eve service proved momentous. Wanting to look nice for the occasion, Matt asked for advice on choosing appropriate pants, a red shirt, and a festive Christmas tie he borrowed from his dad. Then Matt excused us and took over, except for a few tricky details. Due to bothersome spasticity, lack of coordination, and reduced dexterity, he required help tying his shoes. In addition, he couldn’t conceptualize the art of tying a tie, let alone manipulate the tie around his neck and into the desired knot. The finishing touch to Matt’s ensemble was a navy-blue jacket. He looked sharp all decked out, standing with the rest of us in our Sunday best for our traditional keepsake family photo before heading out the door. At 6:00 p.m., the pews were filled with joyous, happy chatter, waiting for the service to begin. The First Baptist Church was elaborately decorated with garland and trees, white twinkling lights, angels, and a simple, rustic creche. Our family had been chosen to light the Christ Candle. As we stood before everyone, as living witnesses to God's miracle, the congregation's tangible awe and wonder mirrored our own, embodying the true meaning of Christ's grace.

Christmas morning was warm and comfortable, with smiling faces gathering around and reflecting off the sparkling tree. As customary, each person wore a Santa hat to distribute gifts, especially their own, and wait in anticipation: How would it be received? Hands down, the show-stopper was Megan's present for Matt. For months, she had painstakingly crocheted a large, pale green blanket depicting Snoopy as Joe Cool. It was jaw-droppingly spectacular. Snoopy was enormous and totally cool, and would definitely keep Matt warm during the coldest winter nights. Well done, Megan!

In time, we moved on to stockings, a glass of wine, and a fancy turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Eight of us settled into amicable conversations, savoring a cup of coffee or tea for Matt and the scrumptious apple pies Matt and I had made for this special occasion. In that moment, we were truly content; all worries about tomorrow could simply wait until then.

As the holiday bustle quieted down, friends began to reach out. Matt went to lunch with two high school classmates, Jenny and Katie, both former members of the "S-Clan" (S standing for smart). Seeing Matt in his current condition, especially in comparison to their own lives, was undoubtedly difficult for them. Yet, they chose to offer their unwavering support and bravely re-establish their relationships. Conversations flowed as they told their stories, with me providing the missing chapters of Matt's, and Matt himself offering a hesitant word or a nod in response. In addition, Matt’s ballroom dance partner, Leilani from Oregon, connected with Matt on Zoom for a half-hour chat. These were all memorable moments for Matt. Having various people around took the focus off of himself, if only briefly, and offered a sense of normalcy and a glimpse of what was happening beyond his limited world. Their words of encouragement and support were invaluable.