George,

Has no one here ever been in a crisis mode and had to pay a lot for something because they needed it right then? Surely other people have had to make quick decisions to keep people happy. Even if, in the end, you are ridiculed. Of course, no one would have purposely spent so much money, but good grief, the tree actually looks really pretty at night, when it is lit up.

The city officials who had to decide quickly to get a tree there are working hard for us every day, listening to our other complaints and tending to our business. They probably didn't have time to drop all the other work they were doing, to go decorate a tree.

Give them a break.

Nancy Damon (electronic mail, December 12, 2000).