December 2009 - Happy Holidays!
If you live in the Western, predominantly Christian, world, the word “December” likely evokes happy images of parties, food, childhood, church bells, home, and laughter. As the holiday season approaches, the Christmas spirit can be felt throughout our home city of Toronto, and our office is no exception. So, if you call our office during December, don’t be surprised to hear background chatter which is louder than usual.
We stray from the traditional poinsettias, so our office comes alive with floral arrangements of holly, ivy and orchids. Chocolates and cookies line our countertops (more so than usual) and as we feast, we talk and joke about our New Year's resolutions.
At our annual potluck and gift exchange, we special order premium quality gourmet cheeses from a local producer and indulge in wine, cakes and Elaine’s homemade spiced, candied almonds.
This year, our staff Christmas party will be at Ruth’s Chris Steak House, the best steak house in Toronto! Until three years ago, we held our party at a different location each year. My young staff was always looking for the trendiest places in Toronto, to which they could wear their latest fashions. Then, three years ago, I suggested we splurge on the very expensive steakhouse. And now, each year we rent the small dining room with the fireplace, and we eat, and yes, we drink.
What makes it so special, you ask? First of all, although it has the typical steakhouse atmosphere, with its white tablecloths, warm wall paneling, and leather chairs, it is neither formal nor casual. You feel like you might be in someone’s comfortable den. Then there is the food. The whipped mashed potatoes are rich with real butter. They have two kinds of crisp French fries. The prawns are plump and spiked with garlic butter. Then there is the steak. The gourmets in our group remark how it is “well-aged” and “well-marbled” and a “meaty” steak. But I think it is the melted butter in which the chef grills the steak (or maybe he drizzles butter over the steak after it is grilled), which elevates eating it to practically an out-of-body experience.
The good food (or maybe the wine) invokes colourful conversation as we reminisce about the events of the past year. It’s been a particularly eventful year for our staff and their families. Elaine is expecting her first child in January, Cindy has returned to our office after working with our old sister company MedHunters, Barbara has returned from maternity leave, Dominika and Lee both purchased their first houses and five of our staff visited the Middle East (some for the first time).
So, why am I telling you this?
First, if you have read my previous letters, you know that we like to ask personal questions of those who call our office. So, it’s only fair that we share with you a part of our personal story. Secondly, as I said, it’s December and instead of wishing you the generic “Season’s Greetings,” I want to share with you the pleasure of our staff Christmas celebrations.
Helen Ziegler
December 2009
