Our big shindig for the Co-op was last night. We’re a pretty mild sort, but we always manage to have a good time.

I really wasn’t sold on going this year, as it was on my day off & I like to hermit up, but J enjoys it more than me. He says we’re “a good crowd”. He doesn’t see everybody daily like I do, so I put our names on the list. Just about everyone always shows up. And we all try to dress up, even if it’s just our best boots, jeans, & a button up or sweater. Last night was no exception. 

In the past, we’ve had our picture taken (by yours truly) in front of the Christmas tree wherever we were, played a game, sang a song, or just had general merriment & fellowship. We have had our annual get together in several locations over the years, from the back room at Golden Corral, to Cowboys on the lake, to the Legion building, to River Plantation’s meeting hall, to right here at the Co-op. We’ve been so poor some years that the Christmas dinner has been a potluck. And that’s ok. The food isn’t what’s important. The catching up with your coworkers about non-related Co-op stuff is what counts. And to see their families growing. I remember the year of our renovation; we didn’t really even have a Christmas party. We ate food provided upstairs on our lunch break. It was pretty sorry, especially after all we’d gone through that year. We seem to be settled on the Civic Center now, though, & that’s perfect. We have room to spread out (usually there’s almost two hundred of us, including a bunch of kids), it’s close to work, & we don’t have to worry about making a mess. 

So I didn’t necessarily go to pick up my bonus, or get a store-supplied gift, or eat the pork tenderloin & smoked chicken. I went to show solidarity with one of my coworkers, for one, but also to show appreciation to our boss for throwing us a proper Christmas party. So many companies don’t do squat for their employees, let alone their employee’s family. Clint makes sure to speak to each & every one of us, shake whoever’s hand. I didn’t catch him kissin’ any babies last night, but he’s got his own to kiss. I always smile all the way home, laughing about something that happened, typically someone being teased mercilessly. We aggravate the pee outta one another, but most of us have worked together so long it’s the only way we know how to act. People come & people go, but there is a core group that remains. Last night, Mark was gracious enough to read us the true story of Christmas, & it was wonderful. I hope that all of you have as good a time at your gatherings as we do at ours. And I hope you have as special a work family as I do.