The Giant Sequoia

The Holidays. Food, family, friends, the Giant Sequoia. My father in law, Vince, is the undisputed Giant Sequoia. The Giant Sequoia is a family tradition. My wife's crazy family's tradition. He who consumes the most food and drink during a holiday celebration will henceforth be known as the Giant Sequoia. A holiday dinner with Ellen's family is a day of loud talking, arguments, and confusion followed by voracious feeding. The actual meal lasts a brief 10 or so minutes. Chairs lean back as contented bellies are patted. A few deep knee bends to aid digestion, and it begins once again. Round two, and so it goes. Vince honed his iron stomach eating kielbasa and stale rye bread while growing up in the Polish ghetto of Lackawanna, New York. We are mere saplings in Vince's presence. He is truly the General Sherman among the redwoods. I love this time of the year. There is nothing better than watching a happy man attack a plate of food.