nFusion Holiday Traditions: A Reflection
You know how it is: The Halloween decorations hit the shelves right after the back-to-school sales in August, and the Christmas music starts the moment the first leaf turns from green to red (or, here in Central Texas, as soon as the Halloween decorations hit the shelves). It’s all so predictable. But it’s also a tradition and, if we have learned anything from “Fiddler on the Roof,” it’s the sanctity, nay the tenacity, of a community’s traditions.
In the nFusion community we’ve holiday traditions, some that tend toward the familiar and others, well, others not so much. Here’s a peek at nFusion’s traditions, from oldest to youngest.
Christmas
There are holiday parties and then there are holiday parties, but nothing beats a relaxing night mingling in some atmospheric club in your dress duds, soaking up the good company of people with whom you spend the better part of your waking life. nFusion’s holiday party is a pleasantly low-key affair: intimate and focused on sharing good times. That karaoke machine can stay in the box, the taxi ride’s waiting for anyone who overindulges in mirth and martinis and no one’s house needs to be fumigated when the guests are finally gone.
Thanksgiving
Over the years nFusion has served up a delicious pot-luck on the Monday before the big feast, giving everyone enough time to recover for whatever family meal awaits on Thursday. And Friday. And Saturday. Oh, yes, we’ve served up flocks of Austin-style smoked turkey and herds o’ ham, but it’s the side dishes that make this such a well anticipated seasonal tradition. Encouraged to experiment, nFusion’s array of culinary talent has offered eclectic versions of corn salsa and green bean casserole, an onslaught of potatoes ranging from the Irish boiled to the Hungarian peppered, and dressings to die for. Long tables, big plates and lots of laughter highlight this simple, annual family-style gathering.
Halloween
It’s Halloween that kicks the holiday season into gear at nFusion. Not content with a simple day of dress up, the competitive element brings together the best of creativity and brute strength as themed-costume teams head to the bowling lanes for a serious bout of ten-pin pugilism, replete with drinks tickets, slippery shoes that don’t fit and some of the most unexpected acts of dress-up you could hope for. Yabadabadoo!
To reestablish a sense of decorum, the next day sees our kids’ trick-or-treating in the halls, offices and cubes of nFusion’s headquarters. Time was we only had a few kids wandering around looking for goodies. Now it seems everyone has a little angel, or devil, roaming the room and enjoying the sweet largesse of nFusioners’ candy bowls.
Annual King Pong Tournament Win
Okay so this tradition is only in its first year of what we expect, confidently, will become a longstanding fixture on the nFusion calendar. Wiping the tables in the inaugural fall festival of inter-agency ping pong is something of a seasonal wild card. But at some point in the coming year look to our participation in camaraderie and friendly competition between our winning table tennis team and those brave Austin agencies who wish to learn a little about a good paddling.
