This message is in regards to the anonymous sender from the neighborhood assc. of a letter concerning X-mas decor that until recently was still up on the property of a relative of mine. It isn't the fact that someone felt the need to express their discontent with the decorations remaining up so long, it is the harsh tone of the letter that I take issue with. Out of respect for my family, which by the way, has resided in this area for four five generations, I will be careful not to include any personal details. However, I would like the sender to know that my family, in particular, the persons living where the decoratins were left up for so long, had just recently lost a dearly beloved member of the family. In fact we lost this special person only a week before Christmas. I would venture to say that the removal of pine garland was probably the very least of my relatives priorities. Perhaps in the future instead of pointing out the obvious, that ''Christmas is over'' and that your'e ''sick of looking at the decorations'', Maybe you could inquire as to the resident's physical and or emotional well-being and perhaps offer to assist in the removal of unseasonal holiday decor. I beleive that would have been the more ''neighborly'' thing to do.

Thank you for your wonderful reply, it does my heart good to hear someone speak out about what is right.