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The fun thing is now I get to comment on really specific things rather than just general things.

Still a lovely story to get into. Thanksgiving seems to ring true. Granted by now it's been almost half a year since Jim and Pam got together, but family pressure knows no bounds it seems. And besides, it seems like Pam really enjoyed herself with her parents and Penny this year as opposed to last year. Loved the images of early Pam and why Christmas is so important to her. Little five year old Pam drawing on the wall is just adorable.

I get the recollections with Roy. As an audience we only saw the last part of that relationship. Where it was moving steadily to its eventual demise. However they were together for a long time so they must have had plenty of good times too. It feels very bittersweet for Pam to think back about those times.

However this is Fancy New Beesly. Rather than worry about getting the old things out, she embraces new decorations and I love that. New boyfriend, new traditions, new ornaments, all setting the stage for forever. Beautiful.

Author's Response:

Yeah, I still get a review. Bonus for me! You might have noticed some little changes mostly to fix little writing issues and the songs.

Remember early in season 1  or 2, when Pam's mom was coming in she said she lived like 2 hours away. I figured that would make it hard to do both. Always a challenge for new couples to make the switch from making it to the family events to choosing to be with each other over all else. And I picture both moms laying it on.

I myself loved writing about Pam's first mural - even though I wrote it I wonder if she got into any trouble or if it was forgiven because of the reason.

Yes, I feel like all we ever hear/read/see is the bad stuff with Roy - but there had to be some good times. She couldn't have stayed with him soooo long if there weren't some. And if they weren't happy over holidays I can't imagine when they would be. But even so he's still Roy.

In my head all the really special ornaments are still back at her parents or not so special anymore because they represented her life with Roy. So out with the Old and in with the New! 

Thanks for the extra insights. Love to hear them from you.

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As you will hopefully get an illustration of within the next few weeks, I really like the idea of using this big milestone holidays as a chance to have characters reflect back on what those holidays have looked like in years past, and with Pam (and Jim) having gone through such titanic changes over the last few years S4 seems like a particularly strong opportunity for it.

I love you working in Helene’s perspective on Season 3 Pam as a mom, and what Pam might have looked like away from work and the cameras and the need to care about appearances. I thought the note that Pam thought her S3 Christmas was worse than S2 was pretty striking, although fair and reasonable – for all the growth she did that year, the process of doing so must have felt pretty awful. (Pam wearing the merger day sweater to an ugly sweater party is a good detail and stings like heck.)

I like that you gave her some semi-pleasant associations with Roy, but it’s hard to read this ultimate triumph of low expectations and have Pam view it as a happy memory. It sounds on point that she might just enjoy Christmas with Roy because he can’t find any excuses to not spend time with her. Here’s hoping you’re about to write her a merry little Christmas with Jim.

“But this year, this year was like finding out Santa was real after all” is the most Christmas fic line to ever appear in a Christmas fic, I love it. And their matching Christmas sweaters!!!! I have no words.

And I’m very much looking forward to seeing what Jim is up to that he doesn’t want Pam to swing by. That’s right, Halpert. I’m on to you.

Author's Response: