Nov 25, 2009

The Big Night Out

It was in the not-too-distant past that the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving was THE night out for those of us who enjoy a raucous evening out at the pub.  Bellying up to the bar with good friends all around.  The harmonious tinkle of ice cubes as they tumble into a cocktail glass, just waiting for for some fine Scotch or Irish Whiskey or Bourbon.  A beautifully poured Guinness served at just the right temperature.  College basketball on the telly, good tunes on the jukebox and lots of laughs all around.

I guess it all started in college.  We would finish up our pre-break exams and head home for a long holiday weekend.  The bars at home usually would have a liberal policy toward those of us who were underage at the time.  It was a far, far simpler time and place. Bars packed with college and high-school aged kids all looking for a good time or some courage for the next day's sit-down with the extended family.  Maybe you got to see some of your old high-school friends.  Maybe you would hang with your new friends.  But the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving was something that you would look forward to.  A bold and epic night out on the town.


Then as we grow older, the importance of the night diminishes in a steady declining arc.  We no longer have to sneak into bars, in fact we would hold it as a badge of honor that we could get into any joint we wanted to get into on any given night.  But Wednesday night before Thanksgiving was still pretty special for a time.  Maybe we make sure to have a glass or two of water along the way.  Maybe we make sure we would have a designated driver, cab or drunken stumble home.  We weren't kids anymore.

And then the years pass and the night suddenly loses all of it's former glamour.  It finally happened for me a few years ago.  I just grew tired of my favorite watering hole being overrun by children half my age for one awful night.  And there comes a time when those of us well-versed in the language of the pub begin to refer to nights like this one as "Amateur Night".  New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day are also fine examples of "Amateur Night".  Those of us who have earned our professional standing in the sport of drinking eschew these nights out all together.  A quiet night at home or a small gathering with friends is the preferred event.

I just wonder when it was that I got so old that a night out at the pub seems more like a chore than a good time.

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Note: Remember to play the Bug-Eyed Trivia Challenge every day. Drive safe everyone.

18 comments:

Kaye Waller said...

Great post! I can't go to bars anymore either. I feel like someone's grandma, and the college kids look at me like I'm an old bar fly. But I remember the days when I turned heads the minute I walked in, and had to buy very few drinks for myself!

2abes said...

Earl, you hit this one out of the park. There are a million people thinking this very same thing. There are also a few still trying to relive the glory days, but not looking to good doing it. Enjoy my favorite HOLIDAY!

Water Logged Canine said...

My vote? Fire pit.

Slyde said...

ah, remember all those times when i would drag you to the OBI?

for all my clubbing days, which i do miss sometimes, i NEVER could stand the night before thanksgiving... everyplace was just too damn packed to be any fun..

Verdant Earl said...

Steph - Oh I still like going out to bars (and I still turn heads), but I just don't like it on certain nights. ;)

2abes - Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday too!

Hobo Dog - Gonna all depend upon the weather.

Slyde - Imagine that...YOU dragging ME to a bar. Of course it was a shitty bar, but still...

sybil law said...

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, too!
I hope you have a fantastic day.
Also, I hear ya on the bar scene. The mere thought of me standing in a bar crammed with eager, clueless 20 somethings makes me want to hurl. I'd rather stay home and have a few good drinks almost anytime, but especially the night before Thanksgiving.

hello haha narf said...

amateur night indeed! the night before thanksgiving has always been the craziest because of folks home. i swear, more people travel for thanksgiving than christmas. anyhow, coming from an irish neighborhood where most folks have MANY kids the bars are always overflowing, out into the streets. just crazy. i prefer bars other nights, when i can own that fucker!

who am i kidding, i own it when they are packed to the gills, but still...

hello haha narf said...

p.s. another great reason to stay home the night before thanksgiving and nye would be the drunk drivers. those folks don't really know how to drink in the first place, then they get behind the wheel and play crash em up derby. assholes.

Verdant Earl said...

Sybil - any time indeed! ;)

Becky - the drunk drivers were probably the first reason why everyday drunks started calling it amateur night. I've been diligent about never getting behind the wheel after drinking for a long, long time now. Sadly, there were a few times in my youth when I made it home despite the amount of alcohol in my system. Never again.

Mrs. Hall said...

THIS is sooo sad Earl. This post almost made my cry. You are not old, just of a certain vintage. A vintage the respects the tender and delicate art of getting hammered on fine spirits.


Bah. The only bars I ever went to were gay bars were I would wear tiny tight outfits and dance my ass off whilst enjoying a diet coke.

I miss going to the gay bars.

so good.

Enjoy your T day!! :)

Verdant Earl said...

Holly - it's funny. Slyde used to only go to gay bars as well. And he would also wear tiny tight outfits while dancing his ass off and enjoying a diet coke. I think he misses them too!

Bruce Johnson said...

This must be an east coast thing. I have never heard of tying one on the day before Thanksgiving.

Slyde said...

1) you're an ass hat
2) i SPECIFICALLY remember a certain time when you, half in the bag, decided that driving the wrong way down ROUTE 110 was the correct way to get us home...


3) see 1)

Mrs. Hall said...

tee heee hee. I would so go to a gay club with you Slyde! I would make the best fag hag evah!!

:)

Verdant Earl said...

Bruce - Well, it's huge in NY. Big night out.

Slyde - Like I said...that was a long, long time ago. And we were only going the wrong way for about 100 feet. Still...

Holly - I think his head would explode if he was to willingly go to a gay bar. We got him to a few in Key West once, but that's only because he didn't know they were gay bars.

Barlinnie said...

I must admit, I couldn't go back to drinking seven nights a week. Six and a half is just fine for any man.

Verdant Earl said...

Jimmy - It's the half that'll do you in every time.

Barlinnie said...

Agreed.