Sleepless in Shanghai

I am currently departing Shanghai and headed north. There is quite a bit of turbulence. Gotta keep the lid on my fresh cup of Starbucks Christmas blend... I don't want to be wearing it like I was last year. And it is really cold. I'm not complaining though because the reindeer are much more comfortable in this than they were down south of the equator. And we'll be in the heat of Africa before you know it.

I am a little behind schedule. There aren't a lot of people in China that celebrate Christmas... and even fewer that believe in me... but there were a few folks that were out and up way past their bedtime. I had to re-direct and make some deliveries west of the city and then double-back after they got to bed. I plan on making up the time before I leave Western China.

I did notice two unique things here in Shanghai. There was a beautiful Christmas tree. That was unusual in itself... there aren't many trees here for Christmas. But what was unique was that it was decorated with handmade Chinese ornaments, Chinese fabric swaths, and chopsticks. Very cleverly done... very Chinese. And then in another house, they actually left me a fortune cookie. I don't think I have ever gotten a fortune cookie as one of my goodies. The fortune read "The future is better than the past". I'm not sure what that means but I like it.

Oh... one last thought from China... do you know what I'm known as here? "Christmas Old Man" is the rough translation. How do you like that? UGH!