It’s Saturday night, I’m working, the neighbors have amazing music, I feel like asking them to turn up the volume…
In my wasted youth, I soon discovered that where party music sounds good, you can get a bottle of wine, dress up, smile, say “John invited us,” and you’re in.
But there were times when it didn’t quite go as planned…
Like the time me (Caucasian) and some Asian friends tried to crash a party that sounded amazing, great music, amazing music system, we got so excited… We got our booze and knocked on the door. A smiling black man answered the door, with smiling black men from 4 generations behind him in the living room, all remarkably similar in appearance, dressed in their Sunday best, and well, you probably guessed it, a celebration! family! Red-faced, we quickly apologized. We had the wrong address we said. We went back to our houses and watched TV on our own…
Years later this fiasco was obviously forgotten as I was once again tempted. I had not learned my lesson.
My next door neighbors seemed to party every day. And I was not invited. The music, coming through the thick concrete walls, sounded amazing. The heavy bass, a nice beat, and the sound of her laughing, well, it was more than I could take! So, armed with a bottle of good wine, I plucked up the courage and knocked on his door; The point of no return. The door opened, they smiled widely and said yes, he was more than welcome. They invited me in and I could see that everyone was sitting around the television. Not many people actually, just a handful. Everyone watching the movie The Jungle Book and singing and clapping. I didn’t like the jungle book. Oh darling. It was a long night.
My face ached after hours of forcing a smile onto my face. My arms ached after hours of forcing myself to clap. Only my voice was intact, but that was because I didn’t know the words of the songs.
As soon as the film was finally allowed to end, I thanked them as sincerely as I could and retired to the relative excitement of my home.
Needless to say, that was the last party I crashed at. Lesson learned.
Music from next door neighbors (different ownership) sounds great as I type. I just tap for the temptation. leaves I enjoy music from afar. Life is good.
