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It’s a Company Christmas Party!
By Marc | December 16, 2008
Every year, the company I work for holds a Christmas party for the employees. It’s a tradition that’s older than anyone here has been employed. That party is today. Very few things have changed about it, except for probably the location, but here’s how it usually goes:
The party is held during business hours at the USA Steak Buffet. The day of the party, people here try to get all their work done beforehand, and it’s very surreal, because it seems like all the graphics work (my area) for the week seems to come to us before the party at noon. We think they do this so when they get back to work they can sit around, gab about the party, and digest.
The party itself is on rails. We get there, get some food, there’s an announcement or two by the bosses, and gifts and cards are given to them.
Then the time everyone anticipates: BINGO!
Everyone gets a card and pieces (which are usually plastic disks or dried corn) and the company president calls out the Bingo numbers.
First Bingo: A gift from under the tree or one of the centerpieces on the tables.
Second Bingo: One dollar.
Third Bingo and up: A quarter.
Back from the party…
When everyone gets back to work, we all try to get back in the mood to…uh…get back to work. But, somehow the flow seems slower. True to my prediction, people are comparing their Bingo prizes and trying to recover from gorging themselves at lunch.
The boss’s speech this year was very inspiring considering the state of the economy. The price of gas has gone up, as has the cost of paper. For a book publisher/printer, an increase in paper price of 10% is pretty big. But, from what he said the suppliers have told him, not many people are buying paper, but we are consistent customers. Whatever that means, we are precious to our suppliers.
Also, since most of our customers are law schools, things may change a bit because universities are cutting back on a lot of things. Hopefully, that won’t affect our company too much.
But, in spite of all that is going on, I am grateful to have a warm cozy place to celebrate with my co-workers and raise a toast to the generosity of my employers.
Actually, I’m very fortunate in many ways to work where I do. Like all places, it has it’s drawbacks, but the company has consistently tried to help us all out when they can, such as helping us to make up the rising costs of health insurance, quarterly bonuses when they can, a monthly lunch or potluck, and events like this Christmas party.
Many people probably say they dislike their work, and probably justifiably so. But in all things, there is at least one blessing, one thing to be grateful for.
What is the thing that weighs on your heart the greatest? What would you say is the worst thing in your life, or the worst thing to ever happen to you? There is something, maybe not obvious, that is a definite positive; something you are thankful for. What is it? How can you make the thought of that positive overwhelm the constant weight of the negative, and find peace in it?
Oh, and the prize I won at Bingo? A Wonka Candy Gingerbread House
Topics: Encouragement, Holidays, Life and Living | No Comments »
