Getting rowdy in Athens! (Georgia, not Greece)

I was out of town this week for the first segment of a four year training progam- every year, I have a week of classes and networking, culiminating in a professional designation that provides a good basis for the certification test that I want to take (well, not so much that I want to take it, but it will be a good professional thing to do.)

Because this is a four year program, we have a group of people with whom we can expect to be associated next year and beyond.  I met my fellow freshmen on Sunday, and by the time we were forced to sing a class karaoke song on Monday night, we can faithfully say that bonding had taken place.  OUr section has 25 or so people, most of whom I hope to see back for the next few years.

We've already established that when I am let out of the office for a trip, away from the parental and secretarial responsibilities of my normal life, things can get a bit entertaining.  On Wednesday night, after the graduation celebration, a function was held at the local country club.  When the shuttles took us back to our hotels, it was not hard for me to be persuaded to continue the celebration.  The bar that was just a teeny, tiny walk away from the Marriott (where a few of my cohorts has rooms) was just the ticket for buckets of beer and whatever everyone wanted to partake of.  By fifteen minutes prior to closing time, after the girly shots and the overly trendy shots had been exhausted, I proved that I could hold my own with the good old Southern boys.  Who says girls can't shoot whiskey? 

Yet, when the hour was rapidly approaching 3:00 a.m., I was the one clearheaded enough to be calling a cab by to the hotel that housed the two of us who were not at the Marriott(the group had dwindled to half a dozen).  DeAnna and John had already stumbled their way to their own rooms, while Brian and I observed the continued closeness of two of our classmates.

"So," Brian observed, "it seems that Chris and Paulette have, uh...bonded."
"'kay, I'm actually glad you said that. I figured I was jus' like over assuming that. Go'dammit."
"Yeah, not over assuming. It's just sorta a cliche, y'know?"
[Dana sighs exasperatedly] "It's just that...crap. I'm not her mother, and she's a grown up and all, but... I can't help but be trying to keep everyone else from not doing the stupid shit that I've done. I don't want someone making a mistake their gonna not be OK with later."
"OK, firs' of all, you are being awfully coherant for it being the time it is. But also, care to fill me in on that? What'd you do?"
"Not going there," I told him, sighing again. "She's getting married in two months..."
"And we already are. And your cab's here."

We told Paulette that the cab had arrived, and walked through the lobby to meet the van. When we approached the cab, I noticed that Paulette and Chris were not behind us, so we waited. Slumped against the wall, it was hard to tell who was supporting whom. Our faces were nestled awfully close. An outside observer would probably not have filled in the blanks of our coversation, however.

"I know is not my business," I began, "it's jus..."
"Yeah. But you're looking out for her."
"I'm not her goddam moral compass. But we're not supposed to leave each other alone in the middle of the night either. Our first class starts in...really soon. Eight o'clock is freakin' early."
"Which is why you need to go. That, and...marriages... I'll go find her"
So I entered the cab, and off he went in search of the drunken damsel, trying to save her from distress.
"He's not coming?" he cabbie asked.
"He's staying here, he went to find our friend, she's the other one who's supposed to go back."
"Blond girl?" I nodded. "She went off that way when you guys came through, I think" he said, pointing toward the hallway.
And Brian returned, alone.
"I don't see them," he said, "and I really don't want to be that guy."

So, off I went for a solo cab ride, now doubled in price because of the charge for wait time.  And I managed about 3 hours of sleep before my alarm sounded.  My final packing completed, breakfast consumed, I hauled my sorry, hungover ass to the shuttle, surprised to see  Paulette already loading her luggage into the car.  We made it to the continuing education center in time for our 8:00 class.  DeAnna  had to leave to puke.  Bill looked a bit the worst for wear.  There was a noticable lack of make-up and styled hair, and a plethora of baseball hats and shlumpy clothes.  Further reminder that, while I may  have been trying to act like everyone's freakin' house mother the night before, I still have not turned into a responsible grown-up

Comments

[Becca]

Wait, so did they hook up that night??