Personal Narrative: I Am In The Mood For American

What’s For Dinner? I’m in the Mood for American It’s Tuesday in mid-September. The temperature is getting cooler, the leaves starting to color, the American consumer settling into his usual habits as the academic calendar begins its latest cycle. I’d like to introduce you to one of these American consumers. He’s a wonderful guy with a fascinating personality, but for right now, let’s just call him 953,483. Right now, 953,483 is on his way to lunch and though he doesn’t know it, is about to become the 953,483rd American today to purchase a Big Mac from McDonald’s. Most likely, he’ll get up to the counter with his sandwich in mind, place his order, take his calling card (423A, which happens to be his nickname), and wait all of three minutes for his meal. He’ll then take it to a table, the car if he’s in a hurry, and eat his unique, one-of-a-kind, made-with-love sandwich. After that, lunch is over. Our friend is left
Every Thanksgiving, my family gets up early to drive down to New York, where we meet with aunts, uncles, cousins, and my Grandmother. Over the course of the day, delicious smells materialize as heaping mashed potatoes, green beans sautéed with onions and turkey bacon, and sweet potato casserole topped with bubbling marshmallow join the turkey on the serving table as I breathlessly await the early dinner.
But amidst my enthusiasm, I always encounter one problem. My aunt, like many families in America, has a housekeeper and on Thanksgiving, she helps prepare the feast. Her name is Flor. She’s 4’ 11”, from the Philippines, and has worked for my aunt and uncle for many years. The whole family loves her. But on Thanksgiving, I can’t help but feel bad, legitimately bad, that while my whole family is enjoying this amazing meal, Flor sits in the other room, either having a little by herself, or cleaning up some of the pots and pans before the dirty plates and utensils