Merry Christmas!

On this very day last year, I didn't have time to sit in front of the computer.

I was enjoying my time with my kids in San Fransico.

I recorded my wonderful time in this post: Travel Talk: San Francisco (Part Four).

Earlier in December, I asked my kids: What 🎁do you want for Christmas?

My son wrote: Nothing for me, please! Also, I would appreciate it if we could move from physical gifts to something intentional like time spent together! Sasa and I are trying to do that for all gifts to each other.

My daughter echoed my son's response.

I offered them both a trip somewhere earlier in April as birthday and Christmas gifts for both, but since there is a catch (I have to be in it), I am unsure if that would be redeemed this year.

That is why I asked that question: What 🎁do you want for Christmas?

The three of us spent the holiday together last year because they both lived in the same city.

That is not the case this year, my son was transferred to New York in April, and this holiday season he was invited to visit Sasa's grandparents in Columbia!

That is why he wrote the following: Unfortunately can't spend time with you all this Christmas but afterward....

To validate my son's point, I sent them this video in our chat window:

All I Want for Christmas Is You

I am glad that I have friends here to keep me company 😊😊😊

On Christmas Eve, I was invited to spend a quiet night on the 48th floor of a highrise building with an amazing city night view. There were just three of us. She decorated her room with colorful nights and cooked a delicious meal 😋😋😋

I received unexpected presents 🎁🎁🎁

Today, I invited three friends over and we played cards till dawn ♠️ ♥️ ♦️ ♣️ ♠️ ♥️ ♦️ ♣️

I distributed a few gifts to spread the holiday cheer and they were well received 👍👍👍

Before my friends came over, my son called and sent over his greetings from Columbia, his girlfriend even learned a few words in Chinese. Before we finished our conversation, she surprised me with "我爱你" in Chinese (I love you) at the signal of my son's verbal cue.

I was touched 🥲🥲🥲

Their call added more cheer to the holiday spirit!

The time spent with friends is always worthwhile, not to mention that we had some much laughter 😆😆😆

Thank you and Merry Christmas!