I turned 21 a month ago, yet I had not gone to a bar until last night. I went with Jason C., one of ChemE classmates whom I do not believe I have mentioned here before, and .
Mugs
Before we went, Elise told me, "You need to bring a mug. I'll lend you one of mine if you need it."
"Um... I may have a cup I can use," I said.
"No, that won't work. It has to be a special plastic mug that you can only buy there."
"Okay. Why do I need one?"
"To hold your drink!"
"So drinks don't come in their own glasses?"
"They can, but you still need a mug."
"Oh."
I never quite understood the mugs.
The Piano Man
The place was a mix between a trendy dance club and wood-paneled saloon. At the front of the building there was an enclosed room bursting with people. Almost a bar within a bar. The bouncers would open the door to admit only four or five people at a time, causing deafening piano or guitar to flood out into entryway. Elise, Jason, and I waited in line, mugs in hand, for our turn to enter.
The room had tables and stools, but they appeared to be there just for decoration. Everyone was standing, singing along with a balding piano player and his sleepy-eyed bass accompanist. They played all sorts of 80s pop music sprinkled with classic rock. The piano man would switch to guitar from time to time. He belted out a great version of "". I sang along just like everyone else.
Interlude
We left the music room at around the midpoint of the evening. Elise eagerly threw herself onto the seething dance floor. I wandered, a little bored without music to hold my attention. I was 21 years and one month old, at a bar for the first time in my life. I did not know what to do with myself, which prompted that familiar feeling I get at social gatherings: I felt out of place and uncomfortable. It was the same way at the open mic night, New Orleans, and numerous other events. Why is it so hard for me to relax without food, a book, a video game, or a computer in front of me?
Hell Freezes Over, Pigs Fly, and the Cubs Win the World Series
I was standing to the side of the dance floor a while later. Jason had just told me our ride was coming soon, so I was waiting while he tried to find Elise. I had my mug in my right hand while my left rested behind the small of my back. An elbow linked with mine.
"Hi! Would you like to dance with us?"
I turned to see four smiling girls, all attractive. The most attractive one had a hold of my elbow. "Sure," I managed to say.
I cannot dance. Seriously. Between my knee and my stereotypical computer geek awkwardness (mostly the latter), I can barely move to a beat. I spasmed for a minute or two while the girls giggled at my ineptitude. I tried to apologize, but that made them giggle even more. Jason either saved me or ruined it for me when he pulled me off the dance floor to tell me our ride had arrived.