After a year stacked with projects and much hard work, it was time to let loose and unwind.  The AAA had its yearend Christmas lunch…and…had so much fun!

Who doesn’t love dressing up?  We all got dolled up in Japanese costumes…and had trustees channeling Harajuku fashion, Anime and traditional kimonos with those 12 foot obis driving us to Youtube to figure out the intricacies and art of tying an obi sash ( my son Gaby and I had many laughs trying to figure it out!).  The RA nuns came in Tokyo fashion too, artfully folding origami cranes strung into necklaces and leis around their necks.  Sr. Ana Melocoton  was resplendent in a purple kimono complete with wooden umbrella, happily submitting to the fashion ministrations of the AAA Board.  Also on costume display were yummy Japanese dishes, with incoming trustee Peachy Talanay coming as a double -sided walking billboard of a ….plate of sushi!  Not to be outdone, AAA staffer, Julius, came in as a bowl of ramen.  Yum yum yum!

There were games galore.  And I was coralled into joining one called Shake-Shake-Shake which game master, incoming trustee Gladys Zafra gamely explained as shaking away to dislodge 30 plastic balls encased in a  box with a single hole  tied to one’s back. I went head to head  with co-trustee Tinnette Nisce who was not only shaking away but who even executed an acrobatic  half-cartwheel!  Not to be outdone, I shimmied and shook and jumped and look completely crazed with my hair flying every which way and kimono sleeves flapping wildly!  We were completely out of breath after a full minute of shake-shake-shaking!  Happily , I won my hard-earned prize…a jar of olive oil…yipee!!! ( You should try this game at home….I promise you, you will use up tons of calories shaking away!)