Up On The Rooftop, (mouse) Click, Click, Click...

I really thought long and hard about a personal Knoxville story that I could write about with a holiday angle for the old scruffycity blog, but I'm coming up with nothing. I know my roommates and I hosted a holiday party in 95/96, but I don't remember that it was any different than every other party I went to around then, except there was decorations and a decent invitation (Hi Vette!) What I remember most was backbreaking labor and long-ass hours setting up the catering at Fantasy Of Trees for Lord Lindsey's (Hi, Harold!)

I have a memory that I date as a Christmas memory because it takes place at the old convention center and that means it was for Fantasy of Trees. It involves waking up still drunk and an hour late for work. I fumbled with my tux shirt and pulled my black pants on, got in my car and in my haste, I backed into my neighbors truck, smashing in his quarter panel. I got to work completely befuddled and was greeted with a huge, beaming smile from Laura, my captain. "Sorry I'm late," I stammered and tried to come up with an excuse. "Its OK," she cut me off, still beaming. "Everything's set up and this daytime tea service for the volunteers is a cake walk; besides, I think we're all a little rough today." I was somewhat amazed that I was off the hook, and looking around, I noticed that all my so-called "rough" co-workers were all grinning, too. "Right," I said, "well, where should I start?" Laura indicated some easy task-or-other, and kept staring dead at me with that smile. Laura and I were friendly, or else it woulda been awkward, but I still didn't know exactly how to take this strange vibe she was throwing me. After a few more moments of her coyest Cheshire Cat impression, she pleasantly averred: "If you're wondering why we're all smiling, its 'cause everyone's thinking about sex."

After I got done completely cracking-the-fuck-up, I spent the rest of the day developing a hangover and doing my job as well as possible. But damned if I didn't smile all day. Perhaps the most effective management technique I've ever received (as we were supposedly catering happy events, we were required to smile, though on days like that, we needed some motivation.) But, yeah, not a particularly "Christmas-y" story, I know.

One memory of Knoxville that I actually enjoy is the way the buildings all cooperate and make lighted trees on the roofs. I'm not very sentimental about holidaze (maybe that's why I don't have specific memories) but those displays are classy and timeless and beautiful, and are the better for being unified rather than everyone doing something different to out-do one another. Though I'm not a man of faith, I think that doing one of these sublime displays speaks to being part of the community in a dignified way, and that in turn is probably a very Christian idea. I've never seen anything comparable to it anywhere else I've ever been. So, here's a rare kudo from the WiseFool: Stay Classy, Knoxville!

Happy Hanukkah, everyone!