He is the same chap who informed me that there are unusually high numbers of Mennonites who suffer from depression but nobody knows why. I said, Well, thank you for that! As cheerfully as if I was accepting a plate of homemade Christmas cookies from one of my students.
In this excerpt, the speaker references a conversation with a man who mentioned that many Mennonites experience depression, though the cause remains unknown. The tone suggests a mix of surprise and curiosity about this surprising correlation, highlighting the societal and cultural unknowns surrounding mental health within that community.
Later, the speaker reacts humorously and lightheartedly to this unsettling piece of information, comparing their response to accepting homemade Christmas cookies from a student. This humorous remark reflects a tendency to downplay or politely acknowledge uncomfortable topics with wit and levity.