Christmastime Terror

Our new Christmas tree: stands up great!

Some of you that know Travis might know why this is such a frightening time of year for him. For those you who don't know about his phobias, I will let you in on this hilarious fact. Travis is terrified of carolers. The first time I noticed this fact was about five years ago. We were sitting in our living room when we heard some distant talking/singing. Then a knock on the door. I had remembered some friends were going carolling and figured it was them. Before I could get out of my chair to answer the door, Travis was out of his seat and out the back door. He didn't come home for a half an hour, just to make sure he didn't come back while they were still here. He said he was crouched outside in the fetal position. When we were in Fresno, some friends got wind of it. Every time they came to the door they would sing really loudly until we opened the door. They even organized the young men one time to come sing (I think it was around Halloween). They thought it was great fun to tease him.
So, like many phobias, they may seem silly to the rest of us, a little overly dramatic, but silly and dramatic are not two words that describe Travis.
I know from where this fear stemmed. He told me one time that growing up some friends in the ward would go around caroling on Christmas Eve. I think they even wore costumes of some sort. I understand his discomfort. Do you sing with them? Do you just smile and pretend you aren't freezing and completely embarrassed by their enthusiasm?
Just tonight we were sitting down on the couch and there was a knock on the door. Travis turned to me with a crazed look and made a break for the stairs. I had just fed Felix and was not willing to get the door. I assured him that carolers always sing before they ring the doorbell. He got off easy this time, but someone did mention to me that the youth are carolling Wednesday night...