The Secret of Thanksgiving
Several years ago, I "volunteered" to play host to a consortium of engineers on Thanksgiving Day who were in town on their way back home, but who wanted to take advantage of their time in this country to talk business.
There were two Germans, two Canadians, an Australian, and me (the only American). We met in a windowless conference room in a dark factory because everybody else was home for the holiday. The conversation got so heated that they all refused to go out for lunch at the only place that I had been able to make reservations, and asked if I could bring in some sandwiches instead.
I called a few places, but soon realized that it was Thanksgiving Day and that every place was closed, except for the one restaurant that I had previously made reservations for lunch. When I called them to explain the situation and request take-out, I was informed that they were only making Thanksgiving dinners, but I could get them to go (the woman I spoke to was very polite, but I could tell that she was questioning my sanity as we spoke).
I went back into the windowless conference room and informed the team and took orders, As I remember, there were four Turkey Dinners, one Ham Dinner, and one Vegetarian Dinner (for me). It was around this point that the two Germans talked very excitedly in German, and finally one of them turned to me and asked, "What is the great "secret" of Thanksgiving that we have heard about ever since we were children?
Secret? I did not know of any great "secret" about Thanksgiving, but I tried my best to explain the holiday, since it was obvious that nobody in the room had even the slightest idea of what this American holiday was about. To them, it was just another day, and they did not understand why there could be such a fuss about it in America.
I went and got the take-out dinners, which included all of the traditional trimmings that were packed in several rather large boxes (it was obvious that they did not get many take-out orders). It was a sumptuous feast, and we spread it out on the conference table and enjoyed it, even as the business discussions continued.
At the end of the day, we joked about the "secret" being that Turkey put you to sleep, since those who dined on Turkey had trouble staying awake and agreed to anything proposed.
Looking back, I do not remember their names, nor did anything come to fruition as the result of that meeting (when they got back to their respective countries, they came to their senses or their bosses reminded them of their "duty").
As for the great Thanksgiving "secret" I can tell you one thing - it has nothing to do with windowless rooms and intense business discussions. Those things have all faded away.
As I looked around the dinner table at family and friends this Thanksgiving, I realized that it is all about sitting down with family and friends and giving thanks for everything that we have been given. For me, it is the love that I have been very fortunate to receive, and that is indeed, a very wonderful Thanksgiving "secret."
Happy Thanksgiving!
There were two Germans, two Canadians, an Australian, and me (the only American). We met in a windowless conference room in a dark factory because everybody else was home for the holiday. The conversation got so heated that they all refused to go out for lunch at the only place that I had been able to make reservations, and asked if I could bring in some sandwiches instead.
I called a few places, but soon realized that it was Thanksgiving Day and that every place was closed, except for the one restaurant that I had previously made reservations for lunch. When I called them to explain the situation and request take-out, I was informed that they were only making Thanksgiving dinners, but I could get them to go (the woman I spoke to was very polite, but I could tell that she was questioning my sanity as we spoke).
I went back into the windowless conference room and informed the team and took orders, As I remember, there were four Turkey Dinners, one Ham Dinner, and one Vegetarian Dinner (for me). It was around this point that the two Germans talked very excitedly in German, and finally one of them turned to me and asked, "What is the great "secret" of Thanksgiving that we have heard about ever since we were children?
Secret? I did not know of any great "secret" about Thanksgiving, but I tried my best to explain the holiday, since it was obvious that nobody in the room had even the slightest idea of what this American holiday was about. To them, it was just another day, and they did not understand why there could be such a fuss about it in America.
I went and got the take-out dinners, which included all of the traditional trimmings that were packed in several rather large boxes (it was obvious that they did not get many take-out orders). It was a sumptuous feast, and we spread it out on the conference table and enjoyed it, even as the business discussions continued.
At the end of the day, we joked about the "secret" being that Turkey put you to sleep, since those who dined on Turkey had trouble staying awake and agreed to anything proposed.
Looking back, I do not remember their names, nor did anything come to fruition as the result of that meeting (when they got back to their respective countries, they came to their senses or their bosses reminded them of their "duty").
As for the great Thanksgiving "secret" I can tell you one thing - it has nothing to do with windowless rooms and intense business discussions. Those things have all faded away.
As I looked around the dinner table at family and friends this Thanksgiving, I realized that it is all about sitting down with family and friends and giving thanks for everything that we have been given. For me, it is the love that I have been very fortunate to receive, and that is indeed, a very wonderful Thanksgiving "secret."
Happy Thanksgiving!
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posted by Brian M at 4:17 PM
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