My roommate and I are both dedicated to our schoolwork. We prefer to stay in and watch a movie and relax than go out drinking and partying. One night we talked about walking to a nearby bar for margaritas. First we said, “Yeah! Let’s do it.” Then a few minutes later we were saying “I’m not so sure. Maybe we should just stay in.” The weather was getting bad and there was even a tornado watch. We decided to be spontaneous for a change and forced ourselves to get ready for our night out. It started downpouring as we were getting ready, but around the time we finished preparing, it stopped raining.

We walked down the street and sat at a little table near the bar. It was still early and it wasn’t too crowded in the bar/restaurant yet. We ordered food and drinks and soon enough some people came over to talk to us. A group of guys started telling us about their “pig picking” party the next day. It was clear they had been drinking for a while and their story didn’t make a whole lot of sense. They said they went to a petting zoo and killed two pigs by shooting them in the head. First off, I don’t think there’s a petting zoo around here. Secondly, I didn’t believe they shot the pigs in the head, but as it turns out, they had video proof of that on their phone! My roommate watched the video in horror, but I just said I don’t eat meat and I don’t want to see the video. After my roommate screamed in shock at the end of the video, the guys invited us to the pig picking. We politely, err not so politely, declined.

We tried telling them stories to make them think we were crazy, but it didn’t really get them to leave. Eventually they realized nothing was going to happen with us and they left. But if we hadn’t decided to go outside of our comfort zone a little, we wouldn’t have this bizarre story to tell. I felt pretty good after that and can’t wait to finish up school so I can let loose a little bit more often in the near future!

Have you ever experienced any strange stories from people you just met at a bar? I’d love to hear it!

My best friend Marian pointed out the song “King of Anything” by Sara Bareilles. I had heard it on the radio but never really paid attention to the lyrics. When I listened to the song again while reading the lyrics, I loved it! I especially loved the chorus line “Who cares if you disagree, you are not me…” I think everybody needs to remember that from time to time. I definitely need to remind myself of that fact a lot. I worry about what my friends, parents, and even professors will think of my new choices. I dread the question “So, what are you going to do after graduation?” I usually reply with “Well, I’ve got a fun summer job and then I’m looking for other things after that.” The truth is, I have my DREAM summer job that I’m totally excited about! It just doesn’t happen to be exactly in my field of study.

I have worked really hard all my life to excel in school, find a job, and go back to graduate school, without ever taking a break. At this point in my life I see some of my friends settling down, getting married, finding fulltime jobs, buying houses… all that is great. But it’s not what I want for myself right now, if ever. I don’t feel like I’ve fully enjoyed some of my experiences in college and before that. I’ve never been a wild partier. That’s still not who I am, but I do want to cut loose a little bit, relax, slow down, and enjoy my life. I need to live in the present and stop worrying so much about the future. There’s another song I really like right now, too. “What the Hell” by Avril Lavigne. The chorus goes “But honestly, I just need to be a little crazy. All my life I’ve been good, but now I’m thinking what the hell.” So what the hell, I’m going to do what I want to do because it’s my life!