Table Setting for Mom at Christmastime

On the dining room table sits a red tablecloth (made by mom). Two ecru-colored, intricately crocheted trivets (made by mom) lead up to an ecru-colored table runner, a 4×4 grid of crocheted squares (made by mom). Atop the table runner sits a porcelain carousel, Santa and four other Christmas characters swing in seats suspended from the rotating porcelain canopy. All this while the music box loops a Christmas song, “Here Comes Santa Claus.”

Note from Ned: I had been live-in 24/7 caregiving for mom about a year at this time. I wanted to decorate her home with Christmas cheer, as she always had. My last attempt at cheer for a long time, as mom fell critically ill the week before Christmas, so watching this video is always bittersweet for me.