i’m dreaming of a gray christmas
and guess what? i got it! oh, and i got a gray thanksgiving, too. pretty sure i’ll also be blessed with a gray new year. not sure about valentine’s day … but i’ve got my fingers crossed.
sometimes living in shanghai is like living inside a black and white movie. and this is one case where i’d be in favor of a little colorization. here, smog hovers until it passes the baton to darkness. what little color exists is quickly covered by a layer of dirt. and sorry, adding more neon lights isn’t going to do the trick.
no blue sky only adds to the holiday blues felt by many expats, separated from family and friends during a particularly sentimental season.
but not to worry! i’ve found the cure for december depression! and it’s available on most streets in shanghai — chinese-made christmas cards!
so if you’re feeling down, just scroll on down. i’ve pulled some of my favorite quotes from this year’s batch:
* the catch-phrase on the back of every card from a card company called nimrod — yes, nimrod: “may the gladness of christmas linger in your heart all year!”
* “bestwishforyou”
* “wee once walked up the campus … lane hand in hand sharing joys and sorrows.
friends like this are joys a precious kind.”
* “laughter and stregth are twins — to be vivacious is to be spiritually healthy.”
* “seasons!”
* “the new year bell is ringing with snowflakes whirling in the sky, and we are rolling a wonderful snow ball for you with our songs and laughter. may your dreams come true!”
* “wishing you all the blessings of a beautiful christ-mas season!”
* “all affection and good wishes for a merry christmas to you and yours!”
* “a christmas greeting and good wishes, too, to someone who’s thought about all theyear through. merry christmas and happy new year!”
* “merry christmas: you share all my joy and sorrow.”
* “at this christmas season and throughout the new year, may you be blessed with every happiness!”
* “how shall you sparting how shall the bands be loosened that friendship fastened round you?”
* “sending warm wishes for christmas from across the distance.”
* “warmest wishes for a holiday that’s bright with all the delights of the season.”
* “every you all the blessings of a beautiful christmas season.”
* “our friendship is like the risingSUN in the morning, shining upon YOU and ME.” (on this one, a cat wearing an “x’mas” shirt is rolling cookie dough while what appears to be a giant pizza pie hovers above him.)
* “dear friend, wherever you are, i hope the best things in the world accompany you forever.”
ah, what a sweet one to end on.
still depressed?
12.24.2003, 11:41 PM · Diary, Humor, Observations
3 Comments
Merry Christmas Dan ! I guess you still have a long way to save Shanghai from the misunderstanding of the English Language.
This is also what I want to tell those who are depressed:dear friend, wherever you are, i hope the best things in the world accompany you forever.”
You were right! It was a grey New Year’s!….but in Chuan Sha, it was a sunny Jan. 1…(and nice in Xu Jai Hui on the 2nd)