Keeping it straight

My mum reminded me of her younger years with her father -- who died before I was born.

Apparently there was a terrible fire in his house when he was a boy, due to a Christmas tree fire. Thereafter Christmas was a downer for him and for my Grandparent's family, who adapted to the situation and made it all they could.

I hope that I would not resort to a near-denial of the spirit of Christmas.

Apart from silly little strings never faithfully lighting and the occasional bulb breaking, nothing of much concern has happened.