Gentlemen,

I used the urban legend about Mamma Cass' demise for effect. The Mamma Cass/Karen Carpenter joke has been around the block a few times too. How about this reply:

Stranger: "Is it true what they say?"
You: "Yes, there really is a Santa Claus...........and he wears a tartan kilt in the off season called North Polar Modern.....have you seen it?"

Cheers!

RB