Chris Erskine: Christmas cleanup, a needle at a time

We're easing out of the holidays, one ornament at a time, one fugitive sprig of Oregon fir swept into a dustpan, one eggnog glass forgotten in the dishwasher. A little at a time, we're putting away Christmas, which feels sort of funereal.

I think it was a successful season, though there are always misfires - something I said in jest taken seriously, a flubbed or forgotten gift.

For instance, I forgot to tip the newspaper guy, just hadn't gotten to it,