Sunday, October 22, 2006

Just Not The Same

On the radio on the way to work this morning there was a siren-blaring, scream-track-playing commercial for a haunted house, complete with a creepy-voiced announcer. When I was in high school or maybe even college, I might have paid attention to that commercial with an interest in visiting it. But this morning I was just plain annoyed by it. And then it dawned on me - I have outgrown the urge to visit haunted houses. They no longer seem remotely like a good way to spend my time or money. This led me to think of some other things (in no particular order) that, despite only being 25, I feel like I've outgrown. I might be kind of sad about it too:

1. Haunted Houses: chain saw sound tracks, strobe lights, eerie music and the possibility of a stranger screaming in my face to get a reaction? No thanks.

2. Sleep-overs: Do you remember staying over at your best friend's house just about every weekend? And what about dorm rooms in college? So fun! I guess it would still be fun but now instead of worrying about your little brother bothering you and your guest, you'd have to worry about the interference of your husband or kids. And then there's the issue of where to sleep...

3. A Six Flags Season Pass: When I was in high school my friends and I all bought season passes to Six Flags every summer and we actually used them at least 6 or 7 times. We went to Six Flags 6-7 times each summer - just think about that! I might make it once a year now, although I haven't been at all in years. The Six Flags season pass is no longer appealing to me. I do miss having unscheduled 3-month vacations though.

4. All-nighters: This often came in the form of the aforementioned sleep-over or a lock-in at church or even a study-session for school. You would have to pay me large sums of money to get me to stay up all night now for no good reason- I don't make it much past 10:30 these days and I'd prefer to be asleep at 9. Anyway, I think that half of the fun of staying up all night was that your parents weren't telling you to go to bed - it felt like a small rebellion. I guess the thrill is gone.

5. Toilet-Papering Houses: You know the drill - everyone out of the car at the same time, armed with toilet paper and maybe a few other miscellaneous items to "decorate" a friend's house. You'd do it as fast as you could and everyone would return to the car, breathless and giggling. I really don't need to mention the reasons why I have outgrown this rite of passage for teenagers.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

I agree with all of them except sleep-overs. I still like to do that. It's so much fun staying up late and chatting with a good friend and knowing that you can just fall asleep when you get too tired without having to drive home. I love spending the night with old friends from college that live in different cities- even if the kids are there and my friend's husband...they all go to bed while we stay up late!

Lindsay said...

Ditto what Becky said. I love sleep overs! but you are right. It is amazing how much we change as we become adults. Now kids don't understand us--that is so weird!!

Unknown said...

I must be doing something wrong - I haven't had a sleep over with a friend since I've been married.

LoriLoo310 said...

Isn't it odd how it seems that all of a sudden we're grown-up? I have your same sentiments. Especially concerning my bed time. Never in my life did I think that going to bed at 9 or 9:30 would be the norm for me!

But I do have to say that a good TPing is always fun. My co-workers and I (along with our spouses) did it to my boss last year. A great time was had by all!

Lindsay said...

No you are doing nothing wrong. I only have sleepovers b/c I am not from here. I travel to Oklahoma to see friends.

Stephanie said...

I have only had one sleep over since I've been married and that was the night before one of my friends got married. Two of us bridesmaids stayed with her that night before. It was a fun little hang out before she got married.