A few weeks ago my wife and I attended one of the best parties we have been to in quite a while.
No. There were no bowls of keys involved. Get your minds out of the gutter! Just because I am old doesn't mean I still think it is the 70s.
I think we all know whose key those guys were hoping to pull.
I am only 46... but in steemit years I am ancient. Most of you young whippersnappers would have probably thought this party was incredibly lame (is that still a word people use?). But the criteria for a successful party changes throughout one's life. Trust me. You'll find out.
When I was 5, the measure of a successful party was directly correlated with the number of creepy clowns present at the party, and the gifts I received. If the number of clowns and number of pairs of socks I received were both 0... then it was a pretty successful party. Let me throw in one more. There was one other item that I wanted to limit to 0: the number of pairs of smiley face covered purple bellbottoms which perfectly matched the ones my older sister had. Nothing Everything makes a five year old boy happier than having to be one half of the Bobbsey Twins* with his sister.
Not the actual pants. Mine were uglier and far less comfortable.
When I was 10, the measure of a good party was the lack of any icky girls showing up and the number of Star Wars themed cakes, decorations and gifts on the premises. Playing a little "pin the lightsaber on Darth Vader" also helped kick it up a notch... unless of course the lightsaber got pinned to a very unfortunate area of Darth Vader's anatomy.
Whoever won this totally cheated.
When I was 13, the measure of a good party... actually I have no idea. I was so awkward when I was 13 I can't really remember what was "good" to me. Perhaps it was simply not tripping over my own feet at the party and breaking my giant glasses. My guess would be that it somehow involved video games. Let's just skip 13... don't we all wish we could?
When I 17, once again, the measure of a good party depended on the number of girls present. However, things shifted from "please none" to "the more the merrier". But the lack of something also played an important role. This time, it would be lack of police... and creepy clowns. Creepy clowns suck at any age.
Ahhhhhh! What if it is both?!
When I was 21, the measure of a good party was the same as 17, but with one added criteria... survival. If you didn't do anything dumb enough to hurt yourself or others, that was an amazing party.
When I was 25, one more criteria was added: the ability to make it into work the next day. Notice I did not write, "be able to properly function at work the next day". That would be the criteria for ages 25 -33.
From 33-46 the measure of a good party was... Party? What party? I have kids! There will be no partying. Partying would take away from valuable sleep time. I have a soccer game tomorrow at 7:45 AM! So I guess the criteria would be finding something really good on Netflix to watch.
Party!!!!!!
Apparently I have entered a new phase in my party life. My kids are 10 and 12. They are actually fairly independent. I could probably go back to my 25 -33 criteria, but that would entail me finding other old people who refuse to let it go... or hanging out with young people. Because I don't want to be "that weird old guy" at the party, hanging out with the youths (yes people in their 20s are "youths" to me) isn't going to happen. I'd prefer to just be "that weird guy". Therefore, it's time for a new success criteria.
This new criteria is incredibly simple and concrete. The success of a party is directly correlated to the number of times I check my phone. I noticed this phenomenon at the party I referenced earlier. We arrived at the party at 5:30 PM. I did not check my phone until it was nearly 11:00 PM. I was too busy talking and laughing to bother checking the football scores, the news headlines, the latest Star Wars rants, my children's bedtimes, or even.... gasp... steemit.
Perhaps 21 year old me would want to punch 46 year old me in the face for setting the bar so low (actually he wants to punch me in the face pretty much every second of every day). But that's ok. He doesn't know that life changes and that I am actually far happier now than I was when I was 21. Besides, he'd probably be wasted so I'm sure I could take him.
*For all of you whippersnappers, The Bobbsey Twins were the main characters of a book series telling the "adventures" of some little rich kids who were fraternal twins. My grandma reference them quite often when my sister and I were dressed alike. It sucked.
Because solving mysteries is a reasonable thing for 5 year olds to do. And wait! They aren't dressed alike. My grandma was a liar!
party up ... to live another day with a smile
I know the feeling. Glad you were able to let loose a bit :)
46 would make you a spring chicken in my books, young feller. Age is relative. My mind tells me I am 25 (it used to be 21 but I don't think that will fly any more) but the body definitely says otherwise. Those books weren't referenced for me, they were required reading material! ROFL
LOL. Yeah my mind is 25 for sure. My back is 125.
are you using the metric system here?
Indeed aging is just a number but soemtimes no matter how young your mind thinks your body just don't feel it though @cecicastor
True! I have days when it is difficult to move with my arthritis. But I don't let it stop me...
I'm so conflicted! My mind tells me I'm 25, my actions are starting to look 35, and I've carefully arranged that the candles on the birthday cake every year are shaped as "39". I try to ignore everything that might say otherwise, but my dog is really starting to look old. How can it be that he's already 12? We just got him!
I want to have a party recently,but this party will be a little different from the others
the party will last 48 hours,and sleep will be forbidden
if you are asleep,find yourself in an ice-cold pool
@hanshotfirst
lolz cool dude
LOL. Sounds like quite the party!
We used to have what is called the "shoes on rule" if you fell asleep with your shoes 9n you ended up being painted with just about anything in the cupbourds!
If uou managed to take your shoes off then you was technically safe. Untill way too much beer was drunk, then your at the mercy!
The main criteria at my age for a good party is: Will I be able to get back home in time to go to bed as usual (around 10PM)?
And no clowns, of course, creepy or not!
LOL! I'm pretty close to that as well. My wife already is.
Oh I meant the time part. I've been afraid of clowns since birth.
@vxelier I am not a fun of clowns either they are creepy to me
nice one! keep it up!
I think the best parts are typically those which do not start as a party and end as one...
I agree with that! No expecatations at the start, all laughs by the end.
Party with my co workers nowadays is like lasting for 2-4 hours . Bring your hubby /wifey and kids on the background. Eating potluck foods, chit chatting how crazy life, work, latest gossip etc...Introducing crypto and blockchain in the topic and everyone's face is like " what?!!?? No idea of what you're talking about!"blah blah blah... and after that "oh, it's getting late, kids need to go to school tomorrow" and then saying our goodbyes "see you at work."
It's hard to live that party life and wake up at 7 to make waffles for some impatient children who JUST WON'T STOP FIGHTING!!!
Happy New Year!
JGV
True but even busy moms should have days off as well right @jgvinstl
LOL. Those are definitely cereal mornings.
Hahaaha.....i couldnt help but laugh while reading this...you and your expressions of words are funny.
i m in the same state as you 10 years ago with regards to partying. I have 3 kids which are all below 3 years old. Strictly no partying for me till they are independent like your kids. Anyway great article. :)
Oh wow. Luckily kids can be entertaining. Plus just trying to survive with that many around will surely be an adventure.
Good luck!
so, age difined how the party is going and named, i like 17-25 age limit party and still missing from some corner of my heart, as i was introvert in the most of the party.
Work-life balance is the key to success. We can still spend time with friends and at the same time spending quality time with our family especially our kids. We still need to unwind to remove stress from work as long as we know our limitations and also spend quality time with our family like daily breakfast or dinner or weekend bonding with the family and things like that. :)
True @leahlei. Life should be balance always. When you're a married woman you're priorities has changed but it doesn't mean you're a robot that never grew tired too
This is a great freaking post. I can relate to it 100%. I'm close to 40 and Netflix and a Friends drinking game is as wild as we get right now. lol. This was funny and awesome. Nice work brother.
Thanks!
The phone checking measure is interesting, but let’s not face it. If we were on a bull market phone checking will happen no matter how much fun we are having hahahah
43 can barely stay awake past 10 oclock. 20 year old me could drink 18 beers and fight with the cops, 30 year old me was snorting coke off strippers asses, but in 40s i'm always so tired.
Same here I prefer sleeping to party @viraldrome. I don't think you have same energy all timelines
Shoot! I think you are telling me what I need to look forward to when I am 46. I do not know if I should laugh or cry.
Laugh. It will be ok.
I will be turning 40next year. I am challenging myself to look and feel better than when is as in my 30's @mawit07
I think I am stuck at "Party? What party? I have kids! ". Nice explanation of how partying evolves during life time. I think everyone is suffering/experience this. 😊
Great post, love the varied content on here, and as a parent of a 3 year old, I feel you! :-)
You are correct in saying that today's measure of a good party is how often and when one checks his phone. The later the better!
My youngest kid is turning 19, in January, I now actually get to do what I want to do when I want to do it - Nice.
It is only the work that interfere with my fun!! I now need to get rid of my work somehow, perhaps steemit will become the answer.
Your "pin the lightsaber on Darth Vader" game looks impressive. Most impressive.
Well played!
Aww, you can still have fun. I just realized alcohol isn't really that fun after the first 2 or 3.
I had some friends in Tokyo who built a soundproofed closet in their bar and put a baby crib. Had some other friends who would basically pick a designated babysitter among them and hang out in the corner being sober enough to responsibly watch the kids. I like this style.
Parties for us "young whippersnappers" haven't quite changed from your 17-21 age as is it did for me. If no girls are present then the party was simply lame :( I don't think those rules will ever change lol
When I was young and exclusive party for girls wher just as boring @jcarnicer this is a good observation
I remember when I was very young. Success of your party was measured in how many plastic picnic tables had to be dragged in by the neighbors to your backyard. Everyone had a clown but they seem to be more tolerated and limited to it just being one.
After that you either had a Chuck E Cheese party or you were alone in not having one.
Oddly enough I think around 12-14 I just stop caring about party’s. I just wanted to have a sleepover at some friends so I would put up with having cake with some balloons with family and then hope it was already the weekend.
Around maybe my 17's and till my age of today I never had a “crazy party phase.” I was just never into those short of things. In fact most time I just wanted to be left alone.
My younger days were crazy I even had a bachelorette party where we hired a male stripper. But of course that's as when I was young. We behave more as we age .buy mothers or not we do need good time with friends as well right @enjar
LOL!
There's nothing better than being functional in the morning when you have a toddler. Any "party" that results in a hangover the following day is unacceptable unless you have previously cleared such an occurrence with your wife weeks in advance. Otherwise, you're going to be in the doghouse. Well, you're going to be in the doghouse either way, at least until your wife does the same thing during a "girls night" and you take full responsibility for the little one(s).
I guess I'm old too .. this is absolutely the measure of a successful party. Less is more. The only time someone is allowed to use their phone is to turn on / change the music. Beyond that, checking your phone is restricted to an "emergency" call from a significant other (typically related to children), or if you have an alarm to remind you about taking some life-saving medication!
Ok, I jest, but seriously.. stay off your damn phone. I don't care if you don't know the answer to one of life's many unknown questions that the internet has the answer to and you really want to know the answer.. Hold your s&*7 together like it's the 90's or 00's and wait until you have access to a physical computer! (I could have pushed it back to earlier decades, but I wanted the audience to feel included).
Always an entertaining read from you, sir!
So authrnthic @evolved08gsr I like the "humanity " in your comments
Thank you :)
I take this as a wonderful compliment, as a human =D
I'm glad you can relate. Good phone rules!
Screw parties I just want that smiley pants and a lightsaber!
Party... I'm mother of 3 children. And I organize party's check my blog I n one of my post I introduce myself. If you want you can always party 😎👍🖐👋🎉
frankly speaking this piece of writing is one of those writing which engaged me till the last words of this post. And I imagined each phase of party as it is mine story. Yes enjoying party is really a fun its up to you how you handle. mind blowing writing that gave me direction to my writing for my coming posts for steemit. Thank you dear :)
Indeed it's an interesting artical.
Nice informative post ;)
Im broke asf pls upvote thnx
Im broke asf pls upvote thnx
I really like gathered Moreover, there is the companion. good luck brother @hanshotfirst
Well i never liked partying.Just a waste of time for me.
Great party time. Fun and enjoy. Good question, what the steem price now? Following you and upvoted. Thanks
You’re post is so fun 😂
very funny :)
very good content and awesome photos.
thanks for sharing @hanshotfirst
Agreed!
Yes, you're right!
unstabole post man. go ahead
It is the first post that I find too much funny on steemit thanks for posting such things
I visit to your blog and follow you.
Keep it up @hanshotfirst
hahah no mind in gutter lol you made your post with awesome humour added in it love reading that :D
so funny made my day
thanks for the post
Great story @hanshotfirst. Will really love to know your secret to steemit success. Mind sharing? Will really want to learn from you. Lets connect - https://twitter.com/nobilitymedia
I got here early. I got lucky. I put in a ton of time and effort. I connected with some really cool community members. Did Mention I got lucky?
It's tough but keep working hard and connecting with other community members.
I can relate with a couple of moments in your party adventure, this is an awesome post, keep up the good work...and no snorting! 😂