Light Up Night 2012

I did it.  For the first time in six years I went.

The most interesting part isn't about what I did there.  It's how I got sucked into going.

My parents are away this weekend.  My mom confronted me about tonight well in advance.  She told me that if I planned on going, it couldn't be impromptu.  I had to know exactly when I was going, and when I would be back.  I wasn't planning on going.  I figured I might if someone invited me, I might consider it, but this is Light Up Night.  It's impromptu in nature, and the conditions given weren't going to happen.

Throughout the week no one invited me.  That was fine.

Today in school no one invited me.  That was fine, I just wasn't going to go.  At rehearsal today for Little Mermaid, a few people asked me if I was going, but I told them no, and explained why.  After rehearsal, OS asked if I wanted to hang out with her and AE beforehand, but that wasn't a possibility with Nana and Granddaddy watching the house.

The events of the evening are best presented in a timeline:

• 5:15 - Pizza arrives, I begin eating dinner.
• 5:17 - Receive text from BF, asking if I am going to Light Up Night
• 5:30 - After dinner, tell her I am not coming.  Ask if she is.
• 6:09 - She replies, telling me she is already up.
• c. 6:30 - Fireworks begin, I watch from bedroom window.  I then continue reading book.
• 7:04 - Receive text from KR, simply saying "hi [N]".  I reply, asking if she is at Light Up Night
• 7:14 - She tells me that she is, and that I should come.
• 7:15 - I tell her it's too late now, and that I'll go next year.
• 7:16 - She asks if I am sure, I tell her to go have a good time.  I go to practice piano
• 7:19 - KR texts me "so whats up?" I don't see it right away, because I have to finish my piano concerto
• 7:28 - I reply with the full details of why I can't go to light up night.
• 7:29-7:33 - Various texts, we agree that it would be too chaotic.
• 7:36 - I receive phone call from BF.  She asks if I am there, and I tell her I'm not coming.  She tells me I am coming.  I agree to check with Nana and Granddaddy, and then text her back.  She sounds like she really wants me there.
• Immediately following - I confirm with Granddaddy, I have to be home around 9.
• 7:39 - We agree on a meeting place, I hurry up.
• 7:46 - I arrive.

The night was fun.  Various people went in and out of the group, such as ZG, JI, MC, and even LW, but consistently there were BF, ES, KR, PR, CP.  It involved searching for people in crowds, ninja, duck duck goose.  Towards the end of the time, BF and CP had to sing at SU Methodist Church, and I agreed to watch.  I ended up singing with them.  After that, I headed home, via the agreement, but I had a great time.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking you're thinking right now?  That I should have been embarrassed to be seen in the company of people 3+ years younger than me the entire night?  I wasn't.  Frankly, I probably had a better time with them than I would have with people my own age.

The thing is that no high schoolers wanted me with them as badly as these middle schoolers did.  In fact, no one in high school ever asked me whether or not I was there.

I lead a strange life.

-NM