A lifetime later, the show still goes on

When a junior US diplomat decided to take temporary leave from her diplomatic post in Hong Kong 47 years ago, it barely dawned on her that a year would turn into a lifetime.

The curtain went down. The spotlight was on. Jan Berris, whose hair was in two braids, walked briskly onto the stage of the auditorium to announce the next item on the program.

The audience waited with bated breath, having just been treated to a riotous lion dance.