There’s a minor China/US dustup going on this week over arms shipments to Taiwan.  My standing plan for armageddon scenarios was to head to the deep underground recesses of the Songshan Airport MRT station – the entrance to which is not 200 meters from our apartment.  However, my Marine friend pointed out that a significant fraction of the 200 or so Chinese ballistic missiles pointed at this island are probably aimed at Songshan, since it’s a facility shared between domestic airlines and the Taiwanese military.  So, seeking protection under a missile range is not as safe as it would first seem.   I don’t have any faith in the accuracy of the Chinese missile guidance systems either, especially with our apartment so close – so I’ll head towards some cultural landmark likely to be spared instead.  Family: try not to freak out.

This week was the 43rd anniversary of the Catholic parish here, that like everything else  is just a short walk from us in the neighborhood – and they had special festivals to celebrate.   They sent the Pope’s ambassador (the Vatican has the only embassy in Taiwan) to say mass.  Then we were all invited to kiss the relic of the parish patron, St. John Bosco, given that is was his feast day (an intentional coincidence).   I’m new to kissing relics – they don’t usually make an appearance in the US, at least in the places I frequent.  Afterward. there was a delicious 10 course luncheon at a nearby wedding hall that cost $11 for tickets.  Wine (from Ontario!) flowed freely and there was entertainment MC’d by the church ladies.  Members of the parish young and old sang, danced and played  instruments.  Also, there was a sanctioned competitive drinking game between tables, and a game in which people had to trade all their clothes with someone else on stage, “excepting the underwear” behind a blanket the church ladies held up.  I know. Cynthia is always amazed at how Catholics party, her other primary non-mass experience being “Oktoberfest” at St. John the Baptist in Folsom.  Also on her mind – “How come everything is St. John with you people?”

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