Day 158 - Party Animal

 

PARTY ANIMAL

Prompt – Party Animal : Have you ever gone to a party you didn’t want to leave? Or do you hate parties? Write about it!

I hate parties. Well, not all parties. Most parties. Almost all parties. So I can feel happy that I haven’t had to attend one for a good few years now, indeed not once since we moved up to Scotland near on seven years ago. Good news. Parties were not really a feature of my childhood, and I never had a birthday party. I don’t think I ever wanted one.

The parties I have attended, back in the past, fall broadly into three categories. There were the student parties, where I usually went along as part of a group, often with the vague hope of meeting a woman who might like me. That almost never happened, and I can only recall three occasions. Two of those resulted in me suddenly finding a girlfriend. In both cases because they asked me!

Those were parties with good outcomes, but I don’t recall the events themselves being any more enjoyable than most of the others. One was in somebody’s flat, and I’m not sure how I ended up there as I don’t remember knowing anyone, and spent a lot of time standing on my own. The other was a wedding party, where I didn’t know the people getting married, but went along as part of a crowd (of whom I only knew two), and it was one of that group who decided she was attracted to me. Strange woman!

The most memorable parties I can recall from that period were the ones after midnight at New Year. I was usually very drunk by then and got into a few interesting conversations.

Then there family parties, for somebody else’s family. Meaning one or other of my two wives. Weddings, anniversaries, other special occasions usually. I knew almost nobody at any of them, and couldn’t wait to get away. Tedious affairs, with boring people.

Finally the ‘other’ category. Weddings mostly, or house warming or house cooling. They sometimes meant more people I knew, they passed a bit better than the others. And into this category is probably the best party I’ve been to, the wedding reception for my oldest pal, Douglas. Although we knew hardly anyone it didn’t matter so much. Somehow I managed to hit, and hold on to, the sweet spot of drunkenness. Inhibitions loosened a bit, but still coherent and aware of my surroundings. I even danced with my wife, which is a rare enough event, but also enjoyed it! The music was right, the night was right, and I was happy. Not even a bit uncomfortable with myself.

It will never happen again. And I still hate parties.

(I wrote this on the day when I had my second covid jag, and wasn't feeling overly well...)