At twenty-two years old, one should have some common sense. Night follows day, angry insides and a hammering headache come after a night of social drinking, simple things like that. This particular twenty-two year old was aware of those very facts when he decided to accept an invitation to attend his first bar crawl. Friday night found him scuttling from bar to bar in an unfamiliar city amongst a crowd of like-minded university urchins, heavy with the knowledge that he was expected at work, an hour and a half's drive east, by nine thirty the next morning.
But my first bar crawl! Red X's on a pocket map marked locations already magnetized by outstanding neon and sound and drink specials. Ladies pumped fountains of charm and influence, gentlemen were simultaneously romantic and predatory. You can try keeping your guard up against having too much fun; safely swaying to the music on your own, sticking to the shade of friendly conversation with familiar faces, but eventually that guard stumbles back to your friend's place, to pass out, contact lenses slowly drying against its corneas.
At twenty-two years old I know wisdom is gained through experience. It's my civic duty to act my age now, if only so future generations of hooligans have a chatty, old codger to look up to someday. Luckily, the worst that's ever come of that has been handing out a few too many pennies making change at the register on a painfully bright Saturday morning.
Not the typical hangover rant I normally hear. This was a different approach which was enjoyable. I have never really went on a bar crawl. Im determined to do one very soon though. Sounds fun and I enjoy drinking and going downtown with a challenge in mind.
ReplyDeleteI find that the collegiate system in the US doesn't adequately function as a means of preparing people for the real world. It's not even the halfway step that people think it is. The raw truth is that college, with its dorms, dining halls, parties, and assorted other safety nets, is a far cry from the "real world" we plan on throwing people into post-graduation. The set up of college actually encourages people to treat it like an extension of high school, so while they're out "experiencing life while they're young" or whatever bullshit cliché they choose to throw out, reality sneaks up on them.
ReplyDeleteHaving gone on a pub crawl or two myself (Oswego has the legendary Bridge St Run, 32 bars) you are far more articulate with a hangover than I ever was. Enjoy being 22, wisdom will come but you need these experiences first. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteWe are all allowed to have our moments of dumbassery. Staying out late the night before an early shift totally counts and is totally okay. Did you at least have fun? Because, if so, it was totally worth it.
ReplyDeleteFirst bar crawl at 22? Shameful! You have catching up to do! Actually, there is a balance between debauchery and rational thinking. The retirement ideology is important but not at the expense of life. So many people live with the idea of getting ready to die...then they do. For me, I chose a path with a bank on one side and a fun house on the other. Good post!
ReplyDeleteI've never participated in a bar crawl, though I've heard some great stories. I like how you approached yours though. You didn't fling ridiculous drunk stories at us, but rather reflected on the entire experience. I liked it.
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