This year, for our 3rd annual Harvest Feast, Walk-O-Rama learned that evites that mention the verb ‘walk’ actually deter most people from considering coming to your feast, or even acknowledging the receipt of the email entirely. This is understandable. It’s November. Our bodies are now instinctively telling us to preserve energy to bulk up for the oncoming winter. Walking is in direct conflict with this goal. Luckily, having caught this error in advance, we were still able send a follow-up email (or three) to attract the attention of just enough people to make this winter bulk up initiative successful, as many guests in attendance came bearing pots and platters full of delicious home-baked (or store-bought, it’s all good) edible delights.
Don’t be alarmed, we won’t actually be walking
This should help us make it through the long winter months
Those who were unsure (most of us) hit up the next table as well
There is, as we found, a fine balance between filling yourself to a comfortable capacity and overloading your cheeks like a chipmunk who is uncertain if he will pass another acorn ever again. I, for one, am quite sure I became the latter. Sherry’s delicious noodles were an early morning experiment. When is that likely to happen again?? Probably never, so down the hatch it went. This seemed good at the time, but hibernation mode is surely setting in as I type. We ran into the usual pitfalls at this event – a traffic jam at the oven, clear spoons that were camouflaged into the table, and accusations of certain delicious entrees being seemingly downgraded to the second table where no one would eat them due to already overflowing plates. All of these dilemmas were overcome, thank goodness, and a happy ending was in store for everyone!
It is unclear whether this happy diner finished her plate. What’s under that napkin?!!
Ken nervously allows his food to be photographed. Don’t worry, we’re too full to steal it – for now.
Luckily, Walk-O-Rama seems to attract many artistic types. In the time it took Kristen to locate a microwave to reheat her food, members had assembled to turn the Javits Room into one heck of a festively cheerful venue.
They were not edible, but we were content to have them on the table anyway
Those without yards had fun spreading these faux leaves for others to rake up
Kathy can’t believe anything on Bob’s phone is more interesting than our decorations
Diane looking for more places to spread her festive leaves
Ken taught us all the importance of simple food identification. We’ll get it by the fourth year!
As is now the tradition, we were joined today by many old friends who have since left the Library. We were so happy to have more friendly people to mingle with, and happier still that they ate their share of food so we could not.
Two wallflowers hiding behind some table flowers
We’re grateful for people like Stephanie! Don’t be a stranger! We see you David!
A future seawolf!
We also continued the tradition of raising goods to donate to the Campus Food Pantry! Those who wish to bring in non-perishables can bring them to the Central Reading Room until 4pm on Wednesday.
Someone is going to be very happy!!
As if this grand feast was not already enough to make our day better, David later shared the good news that Sherry had given everyone permission to go home for the day. Fortunately for the Library, we were all too full by this time to walk out to our cars, and had to scuffle back to our offices to recover from the large meal anyway.
David exclaims that we all have Sherry’s permission to go home!
Riley secretly wishes that we all will be responsible and stay at work anyway. Granted!
Which was fine, because we just love being together!
The rain prevented anyone from having to do some post-feasting walking for Walk-O-Rama today, except poor Maria and all those from HSL who had a great distance to walk to get back to their home base.
We would like to thank everyone who made today possible. Whether you baked or purchased food (or just ate it), helped decorate or clean up, or just came to socialize and engage in nice conversation, you made today great and we are grateful for YOU! Have a great Thanksgiving holiday, and eat just enough that you feel motivated to join us the following week for some Walk-O-Rama adventures!!
Walk-O-Rama 