Through the Looking Glass: 46. Christmas Office Parties

Monday, December 17, 2012

46. Christmas Office Parties

The Christmas season is open to celebration on a multitude of levels and at a variety of locations. The 'Office Party' a common one that can open up opportunities not obvious throughout the rest of the year. What follows are some suggestions that I religiously follow and that have opened up entirely new vistas.

I never consider skipping an office party... there would be little point to writing this piece if I did. Given that this is the season of good cheer I feel indirectly obligated to be part of this social mixing. Meeting my obligation as a reveller, I arrive on time or even early if possible. Such a strategy speaks volumes about my anal retentive nature or my excessively needy side. Honesty in the business setting has always been a principle I have adhered to.

Personal fashion statements can help open up new experiences... comfort and self confidence are the reward. I generally have difficulty choosing between my polyester leisure suit and my biker leathers. Lately I have found that alternating my outfits or mix matching them works best. Some find my choices a bit off putting to some but with copious amounts of 'shop talk' I can easily put people at ease. I have personally witnessed many a colleague go from wide eyed amazement to a vacant stare before quickly returning to the general throng of partiers.

I rarely eat before the event. Knowing that copious free quantities of sweet and salty food will be available reminds me that I can save money by turning them into a free meal. My doggy bag is a surprise to some but the 'take some home for the week' idea has simply not dawned on them yet. Normally such indulgence would generate a fierce thirst but again the free bar alleviates any worries about liquid refreshment.

The festive music, party atmosphere and free bar do wonders in lowering my inhibitions. I make an effort to wait for the slow songs so I can dance with my female colleagues. Watching them blush with the attention I am affording them I know I am adding to the revelry. There has often been mention of harassment claims in the days that follow but I know they are simply resentments expressed by husbands and boyfriends who afford them no such attention.

I firmly subscribe to the fact that Christmas is a christian celebration. Those I party with who are observing Hanukkah, participating in Kwanzaa or worshiping the Winter Solstice are tolerated but only with effort. I have been called on the carpet several times for my loud shouts of 'heathen!' but I will staunchly continue to stand by my beliefs.

I confess that overly imbibing has been an occasional problem. As I always make it a point to stay to the end of the party I am always able to find someone to drive me home. The distance has never been a problem for me but I do feel badly about regularly putting the contents of my earlier meal on their floor mats.

New worlds have indeed opened up for me as a direct result of these wondrous Christmas Office Parties. Each new year of the last two decades have been spent with the counselors at Employment Canada showing me new direction.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Introduction

Having moved at least twenty-five times in fifteen years has opened a world of learning to me. In six decades, an education ranging from the coldness of large cities to the isolation of remote rural locations to the busybody gossip of small towns and the wonder of the prairie and it's ocean of grass have all left their impressions on me.

Recently I relocated to a small city in British Columbia. It touted itself as a historical, cultural, educational and, over-all wonderful, place to live. Once I was past the trees and the rocks, the heights and the hills, the water and the wind, I calmed down and was ready to look at the people I was sharing that space with.

Every location I have ever squatted has had it's share of characters. Players in the cities along with the wide range of tinfoil hat wearers and baggy pants skaters were a given. Pop up strangers at odd hours surprised me with their appearance in the middle of nowhere. Rumours of my serial killer past from neighbours I had never met never swayed me. The wonder of gazing on the effects of wind on the grass ocean interrupted by a landowner enquiring why I was leaning on his fence was oft forgiven.

In this new locale a variety of characters as I had experienced elsewhere was a given. The density and variety of them however gave me more surprise than I would have expected.

I had heard comments about this place being a time warp to the sixties. However I only saw few that , by their appearance, I could say lived through the sixties. What apparitions appeared were younger and more colourful than I remember from that vague decade.

Purple haired strong armed accordionists, heavy head shaved violinists clutching tiny instruments, winter coated scarf wrapped individuals in shorts and oddly calm people with large coffees wandered the streets.

They wandered in and out of new age crystal shops, expressed opinions on local radio, bought nothing but organic food. They played jazz on squeeze boxes, made strings and wood sing in ways not intended, talked to themselves as they tightened their scarves and became more serene with each sip of coffee.

Characters here are more concentrated than in any other locale I have ever lived. It is a point of interest as well as point of concern.

It remains to be seen whether I will be mugged with organic carrots, side swiped by hooligan mountain bikers, be harangued with advice on dressing warmly or kept awake nights by jazzy sounds from an errant squeeze box. Whatever the outcome I am certain I could find it in no other place on earth to explore these particular uncertainties.

Until I am transplanted again, I extend every new-ager and boarder, every subculture economist and spiritualist, every would-be and wanna-be my deep thanks for extending me the opportunity of educating myself one measure more.