No more College parties for me!

That's right. I finally said it. I never thought I would, but I am. No More College Parties For Me!

Before I delve into explanation as to why I made that statement, let me just start by saying that my weekend back at Miami was a good one. Fusion 2011 turned out unexpectedly amazing! It was Dong's and my first time watching the show not from behind the curtains, but from the audience seats. And it was a very different experience. No rushing up and down the backstage stairs into the changing rooms to get in and out of outfits. No heart pumping, palm sweating, difficulty breathing from behind the curtains while waiting for the music to start. No rehearsing of dance steps in our heads while watching other dances. No panic moments right before the start of our dance about forgetting a certain dance step. None of those. Just plain ol' enjoying and watching the show, all the while commenting on the dances or the dancers. And cheering as loudly as we could at the end of the show. It was different, being on the other side of the curtain. 

The catching-up mini party that the girls and I had before the after-party was lovely. All of us talking a mile a minute, going off on tangents, moving from topic to topic like racecars on a track, screaming and laughing at each other... it was all so so so good! Since I've started grad school, moments like those have been rare. Moments with people whom you know well enough that you can yell and scream and laugh at each other and have so much fun doing it. Moving from topic to topic and everyone understanding each other perfectly, and gossiping about everything under the sun - that's really the bliss of having great girlfriends!

The after-party on the other hand... was *hair-pulling, mind baffling, ear bursting, sweaty people pushing* fun (feel the sarcasm?). The minute I stepped in the venue of the party, it hit me, that I am really too old for this now! This same time, last year... I was so totally fine with crazy loud house parties. This time, this year... I am so totally NOT fine with crazy loud house parties. I hated that the minute I walked into the house, I felt like I could not breathe. And that the air was so hot because of the body heat radiating from the huge party crowd. I  hated that I could not hear shit because everyone was screaming at the top of their lungs. I hated that I could barely even move without stepping on people's feet or tipping over on my heels. (Thanks, BO for making me wear your heels to the party. With them, I was able to breathe in air above everyone's heads!) I also was not okay with crazy boys shoving each other in the midst of the crowd.

I'm too old for college parties. Damn. Never thought I would actually say that. But there it is.