Christmas

Gentle, caring, and usually lively like a bee, Uncle Francis, a true friend of the family, was now nearing the end of his days.

I'm not sure he had any recollection of who I was. I introduced myself to him and he knew by my smile and my friendly gestures that I was someone he used to know. But it didn't matter to me that I was lost from his memory, as long as he knew that he was not lost from mine. And for that I am glad that I went.

Noise comes like a flash flood in my family. Before anyone arrived, you could hear a pin drop. Heck, before they arrived, you could even hear a piano crash through the roof. But you couldn't after they did.

As ususal, Mom prepared a grand feast; turkey, a leg of ham, a leg of lamb, seafood turine, etc. A big deal was made of the homemade bottle of wine Hui Chin and I brought from the US. There weren't any wine connoisseurs present that night but we sure had a heck of a lot of critics. But even I, a non-wine drinker, have to admit that the wine was not only a bit raw, but sappy and off tasting as well.

Natasha and Natalie were the gift distributors this year, making continuous trips from tree to recipient like package couriers. I think Ah Ma liked her present the most. I got her one them pearl in the oyster thingys. The whole family gathered around and flash bulbed the hell out of me as I pryed open the oyster to retrieve the pearl. That was the climax of the night and it was downhill from then on.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, I got a number 13 Kurt Warner Rams jersey from Hui Chin. Huua!