Welcome home, Penny! I think a whole lot of the country is discovering this year that Christmas can be much lower-key than in the past and still be nice.
When I first read this, my immediate thought was "just like the rubber bands!" If you've ever had a kid with braces with rubber bands, you perhaps know what I mean--I was still finding ossified little braces rubber bands here and there 10 years later!
Hugs to you in your grief, but this reminds me of a former retired co-worker of my DH's who died suddently, in his sleep, at his lake cabin. I always thought that sounded like the best of all worlds.
Definitely thought of often! Was it Fudgie who was the prince of the almost-successful fly by?? I remember your description involved the term "demented giraffe".