Manipulation

It is now six days till Christmas and I have not sent out a single Christmas card. I know I should have done so earlier, but I had all kinds of excuses such as 'the post office is only open office hours and my clinic hours are longer than office hours'. Or I should have dragged myself out early on a Saturday morning to queue up behind all the Filipino helpers who are sending their care packages to their families back home. Well, it is too late now and I am sure my friends would appreciate random cards at other times of the year! :) Besides, think of the trees I can save.

I have finished Christmas shopping and was contemplating doing away with wrapping paper and gift bags. My conscience was nagging me as I wrapped up the presents and tied them with shiny ribbon. People do not need a thing wrapped in fancy paper and ribbons and put in yet another pretty bag with tissue paper. I would appreciate a hefty book voucher just as much as the Ferraro Roche my patients give me. While one will sustain me for a day (or two if I pace myself); the other will ease my boredom throughout the year. However, there are certain expectations to be met in this society of excess, and I guess it's easier to wrap than to justify the lack of wrapping. It is easier to meet the expectations of the receiver than to make a stand for the sender, as it an unwrapped present is akin to social suicide *rolls eyes*. I guess I will just have to eat more meat to paccify the tree gods.

As the year is drawing to a close, people start searching for that elusive something that is missing in their lives and seek solance and companionship be it with God, family, friends or strangers. No one wants to be alone whether they admit it or not. I get pensive as Christmas draws near and start thinking back to all the little things I have gone through over the past year. I am extremely thankful for what I have. This Christmas will be the second Christmas I am spending away from home. I am seriously considering flying back home just because; Just because it's been a long time since I saw my family; just because I have not seen the new home; just because I want to see if I can still use my sister as an arm rest;just because I want to laze in the pool; just because I have no oven to roast my leg of lamb.

In the meantime, I am going to make a gingerbread house this weekend! :) It is the winter solstice festival this Sunday. The Chinese believe this longest night to also be the coldest ,and the most important family celebration in the year. The pseudo-lawyer and myself are looking forward to the glutinous rice balls filled with peanut paste in sweet ginger soup. *yum*

One more day to the weekend! *double yay*