This afternoon was the Christmas Party at The Burzynski Clinic, and I was invited.

I was expecting a simple, informal affair.

I was surprised.
Pleasantly surprised.

And glad that I didn’t bring a plate of cookies like I had planned!

It was held in the Clinic’s new conference room. There (seemed to be) about 20 large circular tables with 8 (or 9?) people per table. Nice small, festive centerpieces on each table.

Dr. Burzynski made a nice speech about the Clinic and its repair from the Hurricane damages, and the new medical and clinical services offered. Then a priest lead a devotional prayer. There were also short speeches made by several other Clinic staff. It was nice – very heartfelt, but not too long.

I saw a lot of staff, some patients that I had met previously and lots of people who I had no idea if were staff, family or patients or guests. But there were a Lot of everyone!

I ran into Dr. Deleon outside of the room, so she brought me to a table of some of her new patients. I got to meet some nice people and we shared our stories… Carol (metastatic colon cancer) and her Hubby; Christina (metastatic colon cancer) and her Hubby, Walt; Delilah and her adult son (brain cancer). All were from out of town, I hope to hear from them on their progress!

I was late, so the appetizers had already been served to each table – a basket of sliced bread, a plate of rolled meats with cheese slivers and grape tomatoes. Also a plate of pickled herring (?) with a sweetened onion relish. It was quite good.

Then they cleared the plates and brought around bottles of champagne.
Oh Yum

And opened the buffet line, which was held in a very narrow side room. That part was not well thought out, as we had to enter and exit through the same door and, as mentioned, the room was fairly narrow.

The food on the buffet line was delicious… There was a Spring Mix salad, green bean casserole, rice with cranberries and pine nuts, baked salmon with a Hollandaise sauce, roast beef with cream gravy, mashed potatoes, uzska (small Polish-style perogies stuffed with a mushroom mixture; uzska which means “little ear” or similar), roasted beef carver with green herb sauce.

For dessert there was Makowiec (Poppy Seed Roll cake) and Pączki (a closed donut filled with cranberry marmalade), and coffee and assorted teas.

It was all really Very good!

All in all, a very nice event.