1999

Dec. 31st, 1999

Probably the last party I ever attended.  Late twenties and I am looking around at "kids" in their early twenties.  Felt a little awkard.... kinda like that college guy who returns to his old high school and attends football games; checking out the new batch of high school girls while telling stories of his glory days on that field.   That guy always believes he is being revered; blissfully unaware how pathetic he seems to the others.  My self awareness was not lost on that moment.

Johnny was throwing his annual New Years Eve party.  Kegs, red cups, shots, one fat guy with his shirt off for no reason, girls constantly checking themselves in their tiny mirrors and a long line to the one bathroom in that house.

Typical party.... except we were mere hours from 2000.  Y2K.  Planes were supposed to drop from the sky that night.  Computers were going to explode.  The end of the world, some said.

Every time I watch a rerun of Saved by the Bell or Full House or really, any show from the 80s and 90s, there's always one episode where someone throws a party.  Those parties always have people dancing.  I've been to hundreds of parties; not once I have seen anyone dance.  Well, except, that last night of 1999.  One drunk girl bouncing around between the house plant in the corner of the living room and the keg right in the center.

She had long legs, no ass and curly hair.  Probably the only girl who stood alone at midnight with her lips puckered and guys just passing her by.   Drunk girls are annoying.  It's the one truth that stands the test of time.

I was in a stoned haze and combined with being an overthinker, all I could dwell on was the realization that the party was over.  Circle of friends fracture.  Adulthood kicks in.  And frankly, at some point, you become the awkward old guy at 27 surrounded by 21 year olds. 

My eyes were fixated on that long legged, no ass, curly haired girl.  What is she dancing to?  The room is so loud.  Smoke filled the air and the stench of vomit and beer engulfed all my senses.  But for a brief second, it seemed the party stopped and everyone was frozen in place.... Like when Mork strangely shows up on Happy Days and freezes The Fonz.   During that split second of complete silence and collective paralysis, I could hear Prince playing on the stereo across the room.

Life is just a party and parties weren't meant to last.  So, I'm gonna party like it's 1999.

I may have attempted to dance for a split second.  Why the hell not?  The party was over, man.  I was already the awkard old guy.  The pot and alcohol reduced any shame involved.  And not to mention, everyone was frozen just long enough for me to be courageous.

Prince was an enigma.  Weird.  A diva.  But he was never a punchline like many before and after him are.  That's quite a legacy in itself.

Everyone keeps saying that this year we've had an unusual amount of significant celebrity deaths.  We say that every year.  We are just older and those we admired when we were younger are also older.   We are simply witnessing ourselves age through the inevitable conclusion of those we once considered immortal.

It was a hell of a party that night.

And Prince got me to dance.