Ebullient, animated, exuberant, informative? Yes, it’s all that and much more. There is no loud music to compete with and no having to be dressed up. It’s a casual night of good food and great camaraderie, even though the din of the crowd sometimes makes it hard to hear the conversation from across the broad round table.
It’s the group that gathers twice a month on Thursdays at Table Number One to dine on traditional Hyegagan geragoor at the Armenian Community Center in Dearborn. Check your reticence at the door and let it rip.
Film producer Hrayr Toukhanian describes Table Number One as the table where the “elite meet” as he greets each of us on his way to another planning meeting of the local Avak-Vanig Vasbouragan Chapter in preparation for their locally held 41st convention.
Flattery will get you everywhere. The distinguished gentleman is invited to join our congenial group anytime his time allows, as is anyone else who takes a notion to do so. This is our version of the Hyegagan serjaran or the European coffee establishments where the intelligentsia would meet to chat.
It’s no accident how Table Number One has been labeled, but we are simply a group of like- minded individuals who, among other things, are actively interested in the wellbeing of all things Armenian and have a lot to say. Opinions here are heard and appreciated.
All of us have interesting stories to tell, but perhaps Narses Gedigian joined by wife Alice has more than his share to relate. Gedigian is an “Azadamard” Gomideh member and former chairman of the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Detroit. He has maintained his tall, strong, athletic physique thanks to the loving care of his Armenian mate.
So too Mitch Kehetian, whose name is well known as a long-time journalist, editor, and now as an author. His storehouse of anecdotes has been only slightly tapped and is slowly emerging, leaving you with writer’s envy. All those years as a journalist, don’t you think he has seen and heard it all? Wife, Mushetsi Rose, shows up when not too tired from her leadership as president of the St. Sarkis Ladies Guild and their baking session marathons. When she is really being nice, she shows up with a bag of Hershey’s Kisses for Robert Kessel, her chocoholic cohort. The two of them have something going with this chocolate swapping thing.
I have my share to contribute, but I like to just absorb their fascinating stories. People are not timid about saying to me, “Betty, this is not for publication.” I assure them they can trust the Hye Beat lady.
There is a great deal to learn from these seasoned veterans of business and community activities. It pays to be attentive. I consider it a golden opportunity since I grew up in a different community.
Esther Vosgerchian speaks up too and who doesn’t know “Stitch” from her lifetime of community and Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) involvement?
Philatelist Steve and wife Ann Karadian drop by, as do St. Catherines’ Nonny and Mike Vartanian, a lover of blue grass music.
Retired U.S. Marshall Greg Vartanian regales us with stories about assignments from his professional past. Greg, too, is a member of the Azadamard Gomideh, served on the St. Sarkis Church Board, the highly successful Isabel Bayrakdarian Concert Committee, has been a Sunday School teacher, and is on the committee for the upcoming July 17 Armenia Festival to be held at the Royal Oak Farmer’s Market. He is a dependable young man always on the go and involved with the Armenian community. He comes from tough Keghetsi stock. His maternal grandfather David was a survivor of the Titanic.
Table Number One has regulars but others come and go during the evening, like Alice Mouradian, Siroon Karapetoff, Ardo and Charlene Apigian, Very Rev. Fr Diran Stepanian, and Manoog and Sona DerOvagimian.
Ralph Kourtjian pauses for a while, as does Michael Hagopian, Granite City’s sacrifice to Detroit and chairman of the St. Sarkis Board of Trustees.
Sitting immediately behind Table Number One each week is Andy and Alice Poladian, surrounded by their family and darling toddler granddaughter Mary Margaret, a precocious child.
Our conversations go on for several hours and the warm summer days with more daylight are conducive to an enjoyable evening.
We voice our opinions on the protocols, local colorful members of the community, President Obama, the upcoming elections, gardening, illegal immigration, new books, and every hot topic—from the cerebral to the mundane.
We know how to have a good time. There is no such thing as a dearth in conversation. When a regular attendee does not show up, it is cause for concern. We stimulate each other’s minds. We care about each other.
Isn’t that how a family is supposed to be?
Betty Apigian-Kessel
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