Holiday Party '25

And Happy Holidays to you, invisible audience! Longtime readers will note that hey, he's posting a holiday party summary in the month of December again.  You may recall that last July I began a new gig at a different ENT practice, the (vague) details of which you can read about here and in my year end summary later this month.   This office has their annual party at the proper time.  Half of the staff in my new place doesn't celebrate Christmas, so the generic term "holiday party" more than applies.  No matter, it was a lovely time.

We met at Seasons 52, where the menu constantly changes and none of the dishes exceed five hundred calories.  The ambience is elegant yet far from stuffy.  It is part of the Darden restaurant group, who also own Capital Grille and LongHorn Steakhouse.  Yes, a chain, but always high quality.  For our gathering we were limited to the choices of roast chicken, salmon, or sirloin salad, all fine.  I had the salmon. Prior, various flatbreads were brought out as appetizers.  Desserts in tall shot glasses came out at the end.  The pecan pie was a delight.

All but one of my coworkers attended.  I was told he wasn't there as he was displeased that spouses weren't invited (The ENTs did bring their wives). In his place was a woman who left the practice a month or so before my arrival.  Very sweet lady.   It was an enjoyable, reserved afternoon.  The only The Office worthy hilarity was one woman's headlong dive into her meal before everyone else was served.  A little embarrassing for most.  She didn't seem to care.  The primal side of me has to admire that. 

The doctors spoke some nice words before their departure.  Six of us (including the office manager) remained and hung at the bar.  I was still hungry and ordered chicken soup and a side of meatballs, much to the amusement of the others.  The food accompanied my Jack and Ginger and "Twisted Palmer" (an Arnold Palmer spiked with vodka) libations.  The laughter grew louder, the conversation slightly raunchier.  We snapped lots of pictures indoors and out.  The boyfriend of one of my co-workers made a surprise appearance. 

Three continued on to a Mexican restaurant to keep the party alive.  I did not join them as my wife wasn't feeling well.  Unfortunate, and the place is not even a mile from my house.  I heard that, in another bit of coincidence, friends of one my co-workers happened to be there.  

Was I thinking about my old job? The parties of years gone by? As I always do?  Of course, but I wasn't consumed or overwhelmed by such memories.  For a minute or two I recalled the last one back in January.  Filled with incredible irony for more reasons than I can share at this late date.  It was a fun time, but little did we know what was coming just a few months down the road.  Office closure.  One doctor (the one I spoke off at length in that entry) going off on his own, some of the staff joining him.  I heard that the doc had this season's party at his home.  Also ironic, as he seemed the least likely to ever do such a thing.  He rarely attended any of the previous soirees.  I've also heard he is much happier in his own office.  From the ashes of the old practice arose some joy for him.

And me.  I am blessed.