This year`s Thanksgiving Eve was in the midst of dense drizzle permeated with chill. However, the kitchen in the Grand Cafeteria of Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple was bustling with boiling hot culinary activities. Everybody on the cookery team was busily preparing all sorts of delicacy catering to the occasion wherein everyone can enjoy the Thanksgiving buffet with Grand Master and Shimu together. In addition to the Temple`s own prepared dishes, fellow devotees from Canada also brought their own prepared foods across the U.S.-Canada border. The surrounding background was enhanced with ``warm`` color household parts, such as table cloth and fabric napkins that were patterned with yellow- and orange-color figures of turkey, maple leaf and fruit; the walls were decorated with all sorts of floral wreaths, pin-up pictures and dangling ornaments as well as stick-on mottos themed with words of Thanksgiving congratulation to Grand Master and Shimu, thereby further enhanced the festive atmosphere of the cafeteria.

In the accompaniment of Acharya Lian-ning, Acharya Der-huey, Acharya Lian-yin, Acharya Lian-jieh, Acharya Lian-wang, Acharya Lian-her and Acharya Lian-fu at the meal table, together with the exhilarated well-wishing of all the attendees brought forth the togetherness of Grand Master, Shimu, Lu-hong (grand son) and Lu-juhn (grand daughter) and all else at the feast. The elated togetherness of the Master and disciples with chatting, laughing, munching on the delicacies of nothern and southern style of Chinese food, American turkey, Japanese delicacies, Italian salmon fish, Indian spicy curry fried-rice. All the foods were cooked by steaming, simmering, frying, roasting, broiling, baking or grilling, which include meats, seafood and so forth.

After the palatable meal, prepared entertainments were ready to be presented! In order to bring a special Thanksgiving eve to entertain Grand Master and Shimu, the devotees came up with an unexpected surprise for them: an entertaining show at the main temple hall organized by Acharya Lian-Her, Acharya Der-Huey and numerous other volunteers culminated at this Thanksgiving night after several days and nights of preparation and rehersal. The ``stage drape``of Ling Shen Ching Tze temple hall adorned with color ribbons and ballons was being revved up for its electrifying openning. All the participating performers drew lots to divide among themselves into 4 teams: the first team was``The Beloved Couple with Legendary Roc``(神雕俠侶) - terrific, led by Acharya Lian-wang; the second team was ``The Pride of the Itinerants and Vagrants World`` (笑傲江湖) - be the king of the hill, led by Dharma Instructor Hsuen-ren; the third team was ``The Eight Groups of Demon Retinue of the Four Maharajas`` (天龍八部)- must be formidable, led by Dharma Instructor Lian-siang; the last team: ``The Tale of Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre`` (倚天屠龍)- gotta be number one, led by Dharma Sister Sharon. Each team was also endowed with an assistant mistress to help coordinate the venue. The host of the party, Acharya Lian-Herh said: ``Since there is no audience tonight that means everybody is a participant in the show`` - the whole party was themed on ``Vajra Romping Around`` (金剛嬉戲) as a way to entertain the Buddha. Then, every team under the guidance of the team lead and assistant mistress shouted out their own catchphrase which resonated throughout the whole temple hall; the venue was vibrant and each team was confident and demonstrating their best.

As the romping game started, a representative player was elected out of each team before the round began. Acharya Der-Huey was the referee to reckon the points scored by each team; the team that accumulates the most points would be placed first in line on the next round; the team with the least points would be placed last in line on the next round; the in-betweens would be placed in gradation according to their scores. The schemes of the game were very strange and odd but were easy to carry out; the schemes were guaranteed to cheer one up in addition to their amusing details. Next, the game of chances started off by competing for the most glasses and watches worn in a team; this is a fixed and predestinated number and can not be manipulated. The next level of game consisted of shouting out the correct catchphrase without error or flinch before being timed out. Names of the game: ``Crossing the ocean of birth and death``, ``colorful lotus flowers blooming``, ``keeping modest distance``, and ``self-less``, ``being-less`` and ``other-less``, and so forth were contested for cultural awareness, rivalry, reflex and unity.

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