Up In LIGHTS
Reader's Digest UK|December 2022
A community puts on a dazzling display of support for a grieving family
Rebecca Meiser
Up In LIGHTS

FOR SOME, HANGING Christmas decorations is yet another holiday chore. But for the Pascucci family, stringing lights and decorating the yard of their home in New York was always a time of celebration.

Starting in early November, Anthony Pascucci, the family patriarch, and his older sister, Connie, would visit local shops to check out new decorations and to dream up their vision for that year's extravaganza.

Anthony's son, Anthony Jr, and daughter, Sara, shared the home and they pitched in as well. Anthony Jr helped with the wiring, while Sara hung ornaments on the tree inside the house, playing "White Christmas" to keep everyone in the spirit.

In 2020, as in every other year, Anthony Sr strung colourful lights all around their roof until it looked as if sparkles were dripping onto the porch below. On the front lawn, he inflated a large snowman and a Rudolph with a glowing red nose. The place looked like a scene from a Christmas storybook.

Anthony Sr, 60, had outdone himself, as if the brightness of their lights could counter the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic. "It was just such a rough year that he tried his best to make it extra special," Sara says.

On Christmas Eve, the whole house twinkled with lights, and gifts were piled under the tree. Everyone was looking forward to spending Christmas Day together as a family.

Then Connie got a call. Someone she worked with had tested positive for COVID. Though Connie didn't have any symptoms, she decided to get tested right away. Her rapid test came back positive.

Anthony Sr, Anthony Jr, and Sara all tested positive too. Sadly, they agreed their Christmas celebration would have to be cancelled.

At first, everyone's symptoms seemed manageable. But right after the new year, on January 4, Anthony Sr started having trouble breathing. Anthony Jr took him to the hospital, where he was admitted.

Esta historia es de la edición December 2022 de Reader's Digest UK.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición December 2022 de Reader's Digest UK.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE READER'S DIGEST UKVer todo
EVERY SECOND COUNTS: TIPS TO WIN THE RACE AGAINST TIME
Reader's Digest UK

EVERY SECOND COUNTS: TIPS TO WIN THE RACE AGAINST TIME

Do you want to save 1.5 seconds every day of your life? According to the dishwasher expert at the consumer organisation Choice, there’s no need to insert the dishwashing tablet into the compartment inside the door.

time-read
3 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
May Fiction
Reader's Digest UK

May Fiction

An escaped slave's perspective renews Huckleberry Finn and the seconds tick down to nuclear Armageddon in Miriam Sallon’s top literary picks this month

time-read
1 min  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Wine Not
Reader's Digest UK

Wine Not

In a time of warning studies about alcohol consumption, Paola Westbeek looks at non-alcoholic wines, how they taste and if they pair with food

time-read
3 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Train Booking Hacks
Reader's Digest UK

Train Booking Hacks

With the cost of train travel seemingly always rising, Andy Webb gives some tips to save on ticket prices

time-read
4 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
JOURNEY TO SALTEN, NORWAY, UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN
Reader's Digest UK

JOURNEY TO SALTEN, NORWAY, UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN

Here, far from the crowds, in opal clarity, from May to September, the sun knows no rest. As soon as it’s about to set, it rises again

time-read
8 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
My Britain: Cheltenham
Reader's Digest UK

My Britain: Cheltenham

A YEAR IN CHELTENHAM sees a jazz festival, a science festival, a classical music festival and a literature festival. Few towns with 120,000 residents can boast such a huge cultural output!

time-read
6 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
GET A GREEN(ER) THUMB
Reader's Digest UK

GET A GREEN(ER) THUMB

Whether you love digging in the dirt, planting seeds and reaping the bounty that bursts forth, or find the whole idea of gardening intimidating, this spring offers the promise of a fresh start.

time-read
6 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Under The GRANDFLUENCE Suzi Grant
Reader's Digest UK

Under The GRANDFLUENCE Suzi Grant

After working in TV and radio as an author and nutritionist, Suzi Grant started a blog alternativeageing.net) and an Instagram account alternativeageing). She talks to Ian Chaddock about positive ageing”

time-read
3 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Sam Quek: If I Ruled The World
Reader's Digest UK

Sam Quek: If I Ruled The World

Sam Quek MBE is an Olympic gold medalwinning hockey player, team captain on A Question of Sport and host of podcast series Amazing Starts Here

time-read
3 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Stand Tall, Ladies
Reader's Digest UK

Stand Tall, Ladies

Shorter men may be having their moment, but where are the tall women?

time-read
3 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024