Esteemed Presence Graces Celebrations

We solicit your esteemed presence to grace the occasion of 10th Anniversary Celebration of CCC Malayalee Samajam named as "CCC Employees Day"

Could you turn down an invitation like that? I think not, and neither did I. Here I am seated in a large stuffed chair on the front row of the outdoor theater. These chairs have of course been reserved for dignitaries such as myself and our names are on the chair. In front is my private table with assorted drinks, a basket of fruit, and tissue to dry my brow. The traditional Middle Eastern sweets are still to come.

The way it starts is this... You arrive and get a VIP ribbon that makes you look like you won 2nd prize at the science fair. Then you get your picture taken with various dignitaries (it might even get put in the paper!). Of course little children give you flowers and then you are escorted up on the stage. More pictures. I was seated behind the Indian Ambassador and beside His Excellency from Pakistan. Then EVERYONE gave a speech. They were very formal, flowery, and as you would expect, very interesting :-). Finally, after 45 minutes, the speeches were done. We went back to our chairs. And sat...

Unfortunately, the portable generator was not big enough to run all the lights and amplifiers and such. Not to worry, this is a construction site. Someone went off with a large flatbed truck and a crane, got a much larger generator, and set it down. After only a 30 minute wait we were in action again! The band tuned up. Fifteen minutes later we had more speeches and introductions. The crowd had swelled to 20,000 and was getting restless. Finally there was music and I was almost blown out of my chair being seated right in front of the speakers and all.

I cannot believe the absurdity of my life sometimes. How did I get from a small town in Missouri where I was born to an Arab country half way around the world listening to Indian music along with 20,000 laborers? I have to smile. It doesn't get any better than this...

Behind Yebisu is a picture of the 4 main guys running this thing. A Frenchman, a Jordanian, a Japanese, and an American. Pretty bizzare, huh?