“Why do we do it? Why do we freely plunge into chaos, trekking our way to far-off gatherings in frigid places where even the tourist bureau closes for the winter? ... I do it because Christmas does not live at my apartment. There is no holiday flame there, and I do not try to spark one up with tree or ‘nog. Christmas lives at my parents’ home in Brandon, where I grew up. It waits for me there every year.”