Trays Revisited

Trays are, as I’ve noted before, powerful and efficient tools. But just as they carry coffee and Belgian waffles, they also carry a deeper meaning.

Using a tray is an expression of refinement. This has little or nothing to do with the materials the tray is made of or its provenance. The tray is a symbol as well as a tool and its use signifies a deliberate effort to deliver items with dignity and grace. One could simply gather up several items into one’s hands and arms and armpits like a clumsy, soon-to-be-apprehended cat burglar, but making the small effort to fetch a tray for the errand can transform the struggles of a bungling oaf into an elegant and seemingly effortless gesture. As a result, both the deliverer as well as the recipient take part in something a bit more elevated.

The medium may be the message, but if that message arrives on a tray you can be sure that it’s being delivered with the fullest expression of hospitality.