HSBC Company Party

My coworker Denise and I had been talking about the company holiday party since July and how excited we were to dance.  Everyone had been saying how it's always a lame party because the location is so bad and there's too many people you don't know and you can't ever find the people you do know.  

Seeing as how the New York HSBC office has between 1500-2000 people, there are only a few locations that can accommodate the group.  We had the party at Tavern on the Green, which I was really excited about.  I'd seen the restaurant in Central Park a million times and have always wanted to eat there.  I guess people don't like it for a location since there's so many different rooms.  I have to agree, it did make finding your friends a little more difficult, but I still had a great time.

The best part, however, was the dancing.  I would never choose a band over a dj for dancing, however the band they had was rockin!  They alternated with a dj which was fun, so it was really perfect.  I think I surprised everybody with all my dancing.  I enjoy dancing, but don't usually get brave enough to "dance like nobody is watching."  That wasn't the case here.  For whatever reason Denise and I were brave enough to be some of the first out on the dance floor.  As a matter of fact, I sort of made a statement when I was taken out onto the floor by Howard Goodman, the disaster relief guy.  He could honestly be my dad and was cracking me up the way he was getting down.  I just had a good time.  As people got more alcohol in them the dance floor started to fill up.  I danced for a good three hours (in 4 inch heels.)  I seriously had the best time.  Being one of the youngest people at work, Mormon, and from California, I've kind of taken on this reputation of being young, conservative, and naive.  Needless to say people were pretty surprised to see me out there shaking my groove thing.  Whatever, I was just having fun.  I'm sure I shocked my boss's boss's boss, however, when I was dancing by him and he saw me droppin it like it was hot.  Haha, this guy's only spoken to me like, twice.

I finally took a break because my feet couldn't handle it anymore.  I sat for about 5 minutes and I when I stood up I felt a pain in my feet and knees like nothing I'd ever experienced.  I genuinely worried I might not be able to make it out of the restaurant.  I hobbled my way over to pick up my bag and call it a night.  On my way out I ran into Jenny Kim, the VP of HR.  She wanted me to sit and chat for a bit.  Sit?  No problem.  We talked for a few and then she wanted to head back out to the dance floor.  Oi vey....or however you spell that.  I told her I was good for one more song, and lasted maybe three or four.

I finally escaped and hopped into one of the shuttles going to Grand Central.  Once I got to Grand Central I had to walk for about five minutes to the side where the subways were.  Let me tell you, it was intense as I was hobbling along.  I really wondered if I'd make it.  

I finally made it home and had a fabulous night sleeping.   The next day at work, though, everyone was coming up to me (who hadn't been there) saying, "I hear you're queen of the dance floor!"  I just thought it was hysterical because it really wasn't that big of a deal, but just laughed it off.  The best part was when Bonnie DeSensi wrote the recap of the night and emailed it to the whole company, mentioning about 30 names.  Guess who got a shout out?  Yep, yours truly.  So fun.