I hate parties. I hate to throw them and I hate to attend them. And yet I do attend them, casting off my anathema and fulfilling my social obligations. At every invite, I excitedly accept, only to rue the words moments after they've left my mouth. Once in a while my abhorrence for large gatherings gets the best of me and I flake. But not yesterday.
Yesterday was unflakable because confirmation was given and the host purchased food and alcohol based on the confirmations. So I went. It was an 8pm to 3am affair and I decided to go early and get it over with. I was out of there by 11. Out of over a hundred, I knew only the "going away" person, and no one else, until about 10 when a friend of a friend showed up who didn't know anyone there either. She and her date clung to me (which I was grateful for) until I took off. There was music, food, booze, and small talk. The francophones and anglophones slowly congealed on different sides of the rented banquet hall. By the time I left, the music had become so loud that communication was rendered useful only by shouting into someone's ear.
I walked out of there at 11, free! Free at last! And though it was pouring down an icy rain as I made my way through a large park to the metro, I burst into song, "Singin' in the rain". (How gay, I know.) It was the best part of the night.
After that, I stopped and strolled through the village to see if I could catch up with Spouse, he having gone to a different party. I ducked into a couple of usual haunts for him and didn't see him, but instead was seduced by the lottery slot machines against the back wall. I popped in a $20 and a half an hour later, after having gone down to $3, hit a good one and walked away with $35. Glad I stopped. I decided I could treat myself to cabfare and was home at 12:15.
I was proud of myself for staying out past midnight. (I acknowledge that you may find that funny.)
We have a big family therefore ANY gathering is a big one. I enjoy hosting parites but I always get mental and make too much food.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for singing in the rain past midnight, I was home by 9:20PM.
Hehe, good laugh this morning. I got the exact same song when he was raining.
ReplyDeleteI was singing to vero "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.." because of all the snow that she never saw. Then with the big rain I was like "Singin' in the rain".
Good for the slot machine. I hate these really not random machine who give back a % of your money very well calculated ;)
I can't stay up much past 12 either. Saturday Night Live - thing of the past for me!
ReplyDeleteI like a good get together, but I do dislike it when the music gets too loud. I love the fact too that you did a rendition of "Singing in the Rain"
ReplyDeleteciao from Italy
ReplyDeleteJust one question - did you do the Gene Kelly dance number too?
ReplyDeleteknow what you mean about do's, especially if you don't know folk and feel like a fifth wheel.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really looking forward to making a big deal of my up and coming 30th, too tired with my course, work and stuff going on with my other half. I may feel different nearer the time. Think i've only been to a few really good parties, one of which I was dressed as Madonna and my fella went as a monk!!!!
you'd absolutely be the one i'd wanna shadow if i was somewhere and knew no one. (or knew everyone, for that matter.) i relate to the feeling of accomplishment for making it past midnight. in fact, my sense of accomplishment is quickly moving up, closer to 11ish. how very sad.
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