“Dana I can’t believe you brought me with you to pick out your Christmas tree.  How do you know about this place anyway?”  Alice held open the gate and waited for Dana to walk through.

“Mom and dad used to bring Howie and me here each year when we were kids.  Dave supposedly has the best Christmas trees in California.  I brought you here because it is our tree, not mine, since I figure you will be staying at my place through the holidays.”

Alice stopped and looked around anywhere, but at Dana.  “I know that I am living there right now, but it is your place.  You pick out whatever tree you want.  Besides you are improving every day.  You may not even need my assistance by Christmas.  Then you will be stuck looking at some ugly tree I picked out.”  Alice couldn’t hide the sadness in her voice.

“Look at me Al.”  Dana waited until Alice’s eyes met hers.  “As long as you are staying there it is your place too.  I don’t care if the tree WE pick looks like Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree.  I will enjoy looking at it everyday knowing that we are best friends again and you helped pick out the tree.  If I didn’t want you to help pick the perfect tree than I wouldn’t have let you drive to the middle of nowhere refusing to tell you what we were doing.  Now let’s go find the perfect Christmas tree.”  Dana reached out and held Alice’s hand as they walked down the path.  Dana was glad she was able to convince Josh to let her take a step down from the walker to a cane.  She liked being able to walk and hold Alice’s hand.

“What do you think about this tree Dana?”  Alice pointed to the tree in front of her and waited for Dana to examine it. 

“I don’t know.  It is full enough, but I don’t think it is big enough.”  Dana kept looking around at all of the trees. 

“That’s what you said about the last three trees.”  Alice walked past Dana and continued to look at the trees.  “How about this one, is it big enough?”  Alice was joking when she pointed to the seven foot tall, four foot wide tree.  She was shocked at Dana’s reaction.