November 18, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Turkey Day.

It is not the real Turkey Day. That will be held next week. But today in our office we celebrated Turkey Day. Dennis is responsible. Four years ago he suggested that we serve turkey dinner in the office, so without any fan fair or publicity, a group of agents cooked and served a full turkey dinner to any agent in the office at that time. It was a surprise for all. Of course many agents were out on the road and missed the whole dinner, which made them feel left out. And I was out of town. The idea was so well received and enjoyed by everyone that the same agents agreed to do it again the next year, except now they would advertise the event to everyone, so of course more agents attended, so they ran out of food. The third year they got it right and this year, the fourth year of the event we served 125 agents a full and delicious turkey dinner in the office, complete with turkey and all the trimmings. In order to attend, the agents contribute canned goods that we donate to a food bank in Bethesda . Also, they bring home made desserts. It is one of the nicest events done in the year and is enjoyed by all. And of course, the food is delicious.

Now , how do they do it, working from a very small kitchen with no stove? Every year, the group putting on the dinner becomes more efficient, so by now, I can tell the world their system. Dennis and Mario have always been the cooks of the turkeys. They buy and bake two turkeys each at home the morning of the event, and they make the gravy at home too. The first two years they carved the turkeys in the office, which was messy, so last year they carved the turkeys at home, made the gravy too, then brought both into the office in tinfoil containers. Dennis bought several serving trays with heat source underneath, so the large work table is lined on both sides with all the food, with the Thanksgiving decorations down the center. Mario also cooks the sweet potatoes at home. Regina, Carol, Sally, Ruby and Chris do everything else. They bring in hot pots to heat the vegetables of green beans and corn, and they make the mashed potatoes in the office using a ready made mix and a mixer. Salad and rolls and cranberry complete the dinner. This is an amazing event. We serve at 12;30, and by 2:30 it is all cleaned up. And I can tell you, that by 12:15 the agents were lined up ready to eat, because as I said before, we did run out of food. This year the quantities were perfect, so by the time I served tea at four o'clock, there were only a few pieces of pumpkin pie left on the kitchen table. This dinner was enjoyed by all the agents, and gives us a head start on our holiday season. This all comes about because one person, Dennis, gets a good idea, and several other people agree to help out, while all the rest of us enjoy the delicious turkey dinner. All we the Managers do is reimburse the good folks for their supplies. It is an special event in the office.