Big night out

It really does amuse me to find what I see as big night out now a days. Many people will smirk at a 29 year old thinking about the good old days. However my first big night out was around 12 year ago so I figure I am starting to gain just a little right to.

When I was 18 a big night out was synonymous with alcohol. If there was brandy there was a party, something that didn't change much by the time I got to 23 when my taste shifted to rum (I since went back to brandy). Rum is an essential drink for a guy trying to pick up girls, since I found the brandy made me mellow, whiskey made you forget. Rum made you brave! Nothing like a bit of Dutch courage when approaching a girl surrounded by her friends each one looking at you as if you are just another bottom feeder trying to score. I would like to think I was just honestly looking for someone and just lacking the courage initially. A theory that eventually bore fruit for me as I met my lovely wife in such a night.

By the time I reached 25 a big night out usually involved a braai (BBQ), still involving drink but now it was quality we were after. One or Two premium branded drinks were all we needed, sometimes a bit more but the goal of the night was to chill with the very friends you met while having way to much to drink when you were just 3 or 4 years younger.

Last night at the age of 29 out big night out started with dinner, followed by going to a pub and having a drink there (we had a rebellious moment and bought a shot of sours each) We actually even went to a second pub where we could dance a bit. However most of the time was spent shaking our heads as the younger less domesticated crowd was checking each other out, trying to look intimidating and the occasional girl in the short skirt trying to shove infront of you to try and display there dominance over basically everybody else (Couldn't help notice that the fabric of some of their dresses looked just like my grand mothers old curtains... recycling I guess?). Sign... nothing has changed in 12 years... except the girls didn't wear old curtains.

I guess a big night out is one you can smile about afterwards, have laugh about. The difference is that as with everything, the experience of previous big nights outs, will teach you how to get through one without making a complete idiot of yourself.