When Iain says "jump"...
So under strict drunken orders from AIMF I've decided to update this thing.
Wellnow.
Carl's was good. It had all the hallmarks of a good O'Gorman party: loud singing along to ipod music, banter with Carl's mum, lots of freely provided food/drink/other, a few quiet guitar strumming sessions in the corner and all the Awesome People.
One thing that happened there has made me rather pensive, though. A certain vertically-gifted funky whiteboy 4th year left the party saying "You know, I only came here because this might be the last time I ever see any of you 6th years in my life." Me and Iain obviously immediately told him to shut up, Max, and started enthusing about summertime MiG rehearsals. But it got me thinking; even if we do meet up in the summer there will be a day that could be the last time we ever see each other.
And it's like that with a lot of people. Not everyone will get a long and memorable goodbye, and not everyone will get long and memorable reunions in years to come. Apart from the ones seeing me on to the Barcelona Airport bus, the last thing I say to many people who have, for the last 6 years, just always been around will be something like "I'm sorry, my blazer's on your seat," or "pass some champagne, please?". Which is a bit weird to think about.
Of course, due to the wonders of the internet it's likely that lots of us will stay in touch, as many people have in the past. And of course, we all know people that we'd be incredibly glad never to have to see again. Indeed, as these things often work out, the people we do still talk to in 20 years will be the ones that were worth talking to in the first place.
So maybe it's better to dwell on that future - where we're all dispersed about, getting on with our new and awesome lives while still keeping up with the people that matter - rather than dwelling on goodbyes and the 'end of an era'.
That doesn't mean I won't cry at prizegiving. Despite my best efforts at calculated cynicism I'll be weeping like a baby, I can guarantee it. In some ways it's sad to leave. But doesn't have to be the end of an era if we don't make it one.
Wellnow.
Carl's was good. It had all the hallmarks of a good O'Gorman party: loud singing along to ipod music, banter with Carl's mum, lots of freely provided food/drink/other, a few quiet guitar strumming sessions in the corner and all the Awesome People.
One thing that happened there has made me rather pensive, though. A certain vertically-gifted funky whiteboy 4th year left the party saying "You know, I only came here because this might be the last time I ever see any of you 6th years in my life." Me and Iain obviously immediately told him to shut up, Max, and started enthusing about summertime MiG rehearsals. But it got me thinking; even if we do meet up in the summer there will be a day that could be the last time we ever see each other.
And it's like that with a lot of people. Not everyone will get a long and memorable goodbye, and not everyone will get long and memorable reunions in years to come. Apart from the ones seeing me on to the Barcelona Airport bus, the last thing I say to many people who have, for the last 6 years, just always been around will be something like "I'm sorry, my blazer's on your seat," or "pass some champagne, please?". Which is a bit weird to think about.
Of course, due to the wonders of the internet it's likely that lots of us will stay in touch, as many people have in the past. And of course, we all know people that we'd be incredibly glad never to have to see again. Indeed, as these things often work out, the people we do still talk to in 20 years will be the ones that were worth talking to in the first place.
So maybe it's better to dwell on that future - where we're all dispersed about, getting on with our new and awesome lives while still keeping up with the people that matter - rather than dwelling on goodbyes and the 'end of an era'.
That doesn't mean I won't cry at prizegiving. Despite my best efforts at calculated cynicism I'll be weeping like a baby, I can guarantee it. In some ways it's sad to leave. But doesn't have to be the end of an era if we don't make it one.