[John] I was disappointed to hear that I had another business trip to Harbin on Friday, January 9th, until I realized the renowned local ice festival was open and perhaps Laurel could join me for a quick weekend getaway. I changed my return flight from Friday to Saturday evening, and bought a ticket for Laurel to come Friday afternoon. Laurel borrowed a suitcase full of winter clothes to keep us comfortable in the -20 degree weather. We marveled at the colorful, lighted ice carvings and remarkable snow sculptures, enjoyed the Russian-influenced local architecture, and loved the chance for an extended “date night” with just the two of us.
