Not being back in Singapore for Christmas meant for YK and I a reluctant departure from a time-honored and much cherished tradition of having Christmas celebration dinner with our best friends. We felt lost not being part of this annual ritual.
Our consolation was that for once both our children were with us for Christmas. We were looking forward to a quiet dinner with the 2 of them but Val decided to threw a party for twenty instead. The occasion provided an opportunity for YK and I to get to know some of the young people in LCC better.
After dinner Victor had to scrape ice from the car before we could proceed to midnight Christmas service at SM, a church near the university. It was my first midnight Christmas service ever and I was really surprised by the big turn out. People in their Christmas best had braved the subzero cold, the inadequate parking and the odd hours for this. We had to stand for half an hour before we found seats. Maybe more churches should be conducting similar services since there is a ‘market’ for it. How many in this crowd made their once-a-year pilgrimage because it was Christmas?
I always wish we would sing more carols for worship during the Advent season but LCC, like LSBC were not very much into it. For once I got to sing many of my old favorites accompanied by the most beautiful music from the organ, harps, flutes and timpani. The prayers were exquisite. Communion on Christmas Eve felt special. The speaker was very witty and highly entertaining but that was it. It scored low on spiritual value – no reference to Bible, God, saints or sinners. A golden opportunity to work with the Holy Spirit was squandered. Instead a stirring worship service was reduced to the level of a fully sold out Christmas concert.
Boxing Day sales were known to be spectacular but we headed for the mountains instead. We drove more than 2 hours to Crystal Mountain to play in the snow. There was no fresh snow and the slopes were icy but it was our only free day. The last time Victor had snowboarded was 10 years ago. He signed up for classes again while Valerie went skiing.
YK and I took shelter from the cold and waited for the 2 of them.
They returned aching all over after 5 hours of hard exercise and much falling. Then it was time to head home. Another Christmas was behind us.























Even on holidays Victor had to clock in his hours of practice. This is the lot of all musicians and sportsmen but it made it hard for us take long trips. Val, just back from Canada suggested taking a scenic drive on the Chuckanut route. It is about an hour’s drive north, not too far away. Enroute, we could take a stop at Walmart for Victor to buy more stuff. He does not have a car in Baltimore so coming home gave him an excuse to shop and stock up on whatever is needed. Living in USA without a car is inconvenient to say the least. Walmart is not popular around where we live but there are several on the way once we head north.
. There was a long-winded sign to ward off any would be corn thieves. Not high tech or sophisticated but it probably served its purpose well enough. We ate the corn for dinner and they proved to be the best we had ever eaten, so sweet and juicy. At the supermart, they would have cost 40 or 50 ct apeice on offer. At 20 ct apiece, it was a steal!



