HI, punkfolkrocker. I read somewhere that people in some families revert to childhood roles and conflicts at holidays. Could that be what's happening in your family?

It helps to identify such things - kind of like calling Rumpelstiltskin by his real name.

My own Christmas Eve and Christmas were pleasant. A nice church service on the 24th and dinner and music-making on the 25th.
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Olddude, you have my sympathy. I have heard that a kidney stone is one of the worst pains there is. I'm glad you are okay now.