I remember our holidays last year. Two months after the Swissair 111 crash, we had Thanksgiving. We found it very difficult to look past the crash and be thankful for anything. One month later we celebrated Christmas. My mom was with us and the only thing we could muster any energy to do was to fix a nice dinner on Christmas Eve. No tree, no decorations. Of all holidays, it was Christmas that was such an important holiday for us to be together. This year I am hoping to have a tree and I am finding myself interested in some holiday decorating. My focus is different. I am looking at candles and angels and live wreaths and trees. I want to make things, instead of buying decorations and gifts. In my heart, all of these efforts will be done for my father, in his memory.
Tanya Hoché Maluf, CA, lost her father Gabriel, 62, on Swissair Flight 111, September 2, 1998