Stephan Doyle

Solveig and Bill Shearer

2006 had turned into our worst year ever with family illnesses, crises, and deaths. Deadlines at work pushed Christmas preparations aside, and except for Steve’s annual wreath hanging on our gate, Christmas looked like the afterthought it was.

Then came a knock at the door.

"Hi, can I come in? I won’t disturb your work. I just want to put up a Christmas tree."

What a heartwarming interruption indeed! In came a fresh good-smelling tree, bags and bags of lights, and yards and yards of white tulle. With Christmas music finally playing in our house, Steve set to work, sticking his large hands deep into the tree to wind lights from the inside out.

"That’s the secret. You have to start the lights from the trunk and work out." 750 lights later, the secret glowed from inside out, and from top to bottom, where the tree was secured in Steve’s signature white cloud of sparkle.