Holidays will always be tough after you've lost someone. When my oldest brother died (1989), that Christmas Mum stated categorically that there would be no wreath on the front door, and she bought a beautiful corn dolly instead. She also decided that for once, she'd buy the expensive crackers.

Which is when we learned that, while the expensive crackers may look good, and may have lovely gifts and nice hats in them, the jokes are as bad as ever.

Also, *hugs*