A MOVING CHRISTMAS

     A more unchristmasy Christmas I never spent, and that wasn't just the weather.  Early in the morning Frank departed for THP to oversee the loading of the truck to move the items we had retained from our about- to-be- demolished apartment.  He had not been gone long when into my bedroom  came a sick girl in plenty of pain.   Shortly the door opened again and a half-sick boy entered.  It soon appeared that the computer and the screaming washer were also under the weather, as I readied our "doll house" to receive mounds of baggage one wonders where to stuff.  We got used to living with C.H.A.O.S. in America (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and it looks as though we're coming down with the same syndrome over here!  Our wee living room  became a maze....an interesting form of decoration few have thought of for the holidays.

     Christian and I raised our voices in carol after carol, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel"...."O Come let us adore Him",.... "Gloria ! In excelsus Deo!"  And all three of us prayed for the lonely and the sick and hurting, which seem to be plentiful in the extended family this year.   It was a time of sober triumph.  The day wore on, but actually ended on a note of merry laughter (in spite of the fact that delirious Annelisa was still immobilized.)

      You see, after Frank arrived, we three who were well enough went out for a  late bite at a new (to us) place.  It was not real fancy,  but we enjoyed the menu;  (well, you know my weakness for Chinglish.)  If I post a few selections, maybe you could sort of choose what  you'd order.

                                       MENU SELECTIONS

                                                DRINKS

                    *  Listen to the snow blue

                    *  A wonderful gentlemen's breast

                                               ENTREES

                    *   Steamed doubly smelly

                    *   Husband and wife lung piece

                    *   The shrimp explodes the ricefield eel

                    *   Fish lips

                    *   Sheet iron big foot

                    *   Spoiled skin green vegetable

                    *   Flutters the fighting cock

                    *   The little yellow croaker burns the soup

                    *   Heroic feeling beef

                    *   52 degree small muddled immortal

     One asks whether there were small muddled mortals involved in the translation.  If you like these tasty dishes, I'll try to provide more of them, as that's just a sample.  Bon appetite!