This Christmas

Wow. This Christmas has been grand! Hehheh here's my attempt at an executive summary...yesterday evening popped down to NYDC in Holland V for dinner with Ian, Thong, Vaish and Oh-san. Finally managed to give Thong his pot, and had a hilarious meal, unfortunately quite at the expense of the Christmas spirit. Oh the vitriol flying across that table! =P Mmm anyway, the others went off to Eskibar to chill out during happy hour, while I made my way down to City Hall to meet YS.

Happened to take the bus that went down the whole stretch of Orchard, so was able to have a birds-eye view of all the lights and happenings along that road. Wow, I know that it's all commercialised and tacky and all, but you can't escape a sense of exhilaration when you see all those people crammed into the area between Taka and Paragon looking at buskers and listening to carols. Usually crowds aren't my thing, but for that moment had an urge to jump off the bus and join in the fun on the sidewalk. Anyway. Reached City Hall, found YS who was scrupulously on time, and then went down to Esplanade, despite her having been at the performance centre for The Nutcracker for like two weeks running or something.

Mmm Esplanade never seems to disappoint, and we ran into a carol group in the foyer, and a really really cool jazz band at the outdoor theatre. About as good as Broken Orange Fence, especially on guitar and drums. Stayed for two of their sets, under a clear night sky with dozens of other people milling around, and across from the skyline that still forms such a stunning backdrop despite all this time. I don't know if it's just me, but there seemed to be more of a general feeling of goodwill. While other times everyone in the outdoor theatre wants to have fun, yesterday night the merrymaking was more cool because you have a sense of it forming a pattern with the other celebrations worldwide, and through time too.

Afterwards went to Cathedral to attend the midnight mass. Actually hoped that the choir would be putting up a Christmas pageant, but they had shifted the pageant to last Sunday, which was a real pity, I think. Buuut the ceremony was good anyway. The Cathedral was stuffed, the Archbishop was giving mass, and the choir admirably played their role in filling the vaulted heights of the Cathedral with celestial song. Mmm...was YS's first ever Christian mass, and though it wasn't the most comfortable experience ever, I hope it was enriching nonetheless. At least it would differentiate this Christmas, add a spiritual dimension onto it.

At the end of the mass there was the traditional singing of "Joy To The World". And then, the choir broke into a song that I had forgotten, "Felis Navidad" (dunno if that's the right spelling though), and the Cathedral was reverberating with happiness and cheer. It's such a happy song to welcome in a happy day!

And then today...family came over, of course, and I think without the pressure of school I found it easier to interact with everyone. Heh...and I guess they have an additional connection point, which is my iminent NS. Everyone was giving advice on how to deal with it! And for the Hong Kong trip too they were all concerned. Was quite glad that I could still functionally carry out a conversation in Chinese.

How can I capture that feeling of security and equilibrium, sitting around the dining table with my family, each one with a cup of Chinese tea in front of them, and a roast turkey and a leg of ham in the centre? There is nothing else to be wanted, then, abundance and warmth all around you. It's this kind of feeling of being in the right place that I don't want to lose, as I was telling YS. But when you're actually in a situation like that, there's nothing to do but to enjoy it while it lasts, and not mull over how temporary it is.

Yeah...I like this Christmas. When the spiritual significance of the feast is brought into the social sphere, goodwill is produced. Today is the time to feel that not everyone is out to get you, there are people to care about you, and there is the time to just enjoy what one has. And there is no doubt, I think, that it is the people that make the meaning of the season matter.

Well...it has definitely been a great Christmas for me. I hope everyone's had a wonderful season as well, just the thing to end off a great year. And may this only be the start of a new year that will exceed all your expectations!

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Last jump tomorrow...off to Hong Kong until the 29th! Going to be my one last fling before really preparing for the next phase of life, the army. Shall really relish this time, then, in that colder, colourful city. If you guys still want to contact me, I'll be autoroaming, but beware of the SMS charges! See you guys in a bit!

pondered by phoenican @ 25.12.05