stamp lickin' good?

It's Christmas card sending time again! I bought some Christmas cards when I visited Toronto last October, and again some here in Stirling last month. I have been waiting for the time when I can go and post them. Today, Saturday, was a good time as this will be my last Saturday here. I go back to Thailand next Saturday. And the PO at the city centre is open on Saturdays until 1730 hrs. So there I was, with my 15 cards for the Philippines, and 2 cards for the UK. The PO staff gave me stamps for the international cards, and he put sticker stamps on the local cards. So I went to the side table where customers would usually prepare their stuff before sending them. I needed paste or glue or moist pad to moisten the stamps so they would stick. I could not find any, so I asked the staff. Can you believe what he told me I should do? He made sign language that I should lick the stamps to moisten them. What the ... ? Was he serious? In this day and age? I told him that is not allowed, it is not so hygienic? But he said they do not have this kind of thing coz they would just lick the stamps. I had 15 stamps and I would not do it! As I had an appointment with a friend in 10 minutes, I had to leave. Anyway I would just come back later then coz I still had other cards to post. I just considered it as another one of those strange or backward things that happen in this town.

In the afternoon I returned to the PO with the cards. I of course used moist tissue to stick the stamps on. And then I had another card that needed a stamp. And can you believe it? He did the sticking for me, by licking the stamp and putting it on the envelop! Yucky!!!! I will not tell whose card it is ... I just hope nothing will grow on the stamp while the card is making its way to the Philippines!

Then this PO guy asked me if I were from the Philippines, and whether I am from the north or south. I answered that I am from the central part. Coz he is married to a Filipina from the north! Strange? Small world? I just hope he did not get that habit of stamp licking from his wife...

Christmas ... It's the most wonderful time of the year! (charity cards from tesco)

Into it!

We are finally into it ... the Christmas activities ... we have done our shopping for gifts (almost 90%), posted most of the cards & other gifts, set-up the Christmas tree at home, started distributing the gifts, baked Christmas fruitcake for giving away ... hmmm ... are these all about Christmas? I hope not. There is more to this and we know it! Glad to read Scriptures these days that talk about Christmas, the reason for it, and why we are celebrating it. So let's not forget that and it helps also to listen to Christmas songs that talk about this. The Handel's Messiah is a very good one to listen to. I missed attending the concert this year. But I have the music here so I can listen anytime. Today's devotional is about it as well.

Another treasure I have here is the CD from Our Daily Bread which I received last year entitled, Christmas Meditation. I listen to it often now and it helps me to re-focus my thoughts and heart on the real meaning of Christmas. Also I try to share to those whom I am giving gifts and cards so that they too will think about it or will come to know.

The only thing for sure in celebrating Christmas this year is that I am away from my family. It's kind of lonely and I just have to remember to call home when they are still awake. It will only be my parents and my sister and her family (they live next door) to celebrate at home. But I guess it will not be like before when after dinner on the 24th we would have our program-program when everyone would present his/her talent, and my parents would say some encouraging words. When the grandchildren came and they visited it was their turn to do the talent show, and we aunts and uncles would give cash prizes to them. Then we would wait for midnight to strike for the Noche Buena. When we were already grown ups each one of us had his/her own menu to cook. Those were the days. I wonder when we can all be together again for Christmas. We just treasure these memories in our hearts. Am sure my Dad & Mom would shed a tear or two again this year.