Find My Gingerbread Man: A Holiday Contest

The Americans hosted the final JAW event for 2010, a genteel tea party at Mindy's house overlooking the Navy base and Tokyo Bay.

The party was an oasis in the midst of the usual holiday frenzy overseas military bases cram into the first two weeks of December, before school lets out and nearly a third of the personnel depart for home or exotic vacation destinations. But an anti-holiday party did not mean we completely turned our backs on Christmas. Heavens no. We played Christmas bingo and decorated gingerbread men.

The first person who correctly guesses the cookie I created wins a 60th anniversary Peko-chan Christmas treat box adorned with a combination cell phone charm/finger puppet. Anonymous submissions will not be considered.

Cookie #1

Cookie #2

Cookie #3

Cookie #4

One of the party hostesses, a modern day Grandma Crippen, whipped up 45 reversible bags that were filled with treats and passed out as bingo prizes. Everyone eventually won a bag. I plan to admire mine for a few weeks and then pass it along to one of you as soon as I dream up another contest.

"Guess the year Kathy will finish Ulysses" has strong potential as the clock winds down on 2010.