I again spent my weekend at a bar. Not one night but 2. Oh my! My mother voiced her concern for me in that I am becoming "quite the bar fly" .... said in a disapproving tone. I understand her concern. I can imagine the image she must be conjuring up in her mind. Her drunk daughter making poor choices. I was able to put her mind at ease. Friday night I actually went with my cousins to play pool and dance. My cousin from Texas was here to visit her sister. I went with them to Salem to get matching tattoos. Interesting process and the artwork is amazing. That is another post for another day. We had such a great time and a great visit. I wish she didn't live in Texas. I miss her terribly. My other cousin lives in Portland and I don't see her often either. I love my family and wish we lived closer. Saturday night a friend was celebrating their birthday and I was actually designated driver. I don't have to go to the bars for drinking. I actually go to play pool, darts, for the dancing, music and of course a sociology lesson. People watching is so much fun. It is an amazing phenomenon to see the physical and emotional changes that occur in someone from drink 1 and counting. The shy become more shy or less shy, the violent become more violent, the flirty become slutty... inhibitions are gone. All from a drink or two. The atmosphere changes the longer you are there. Early evening 11-1 is fun and games...people are having fun.. dancing, playing pool, darts, gambling, talking, laughing- no pressures. Then it happens. Time keeps on ticking....1:30 quickly approaches and the music becomes more erotic, the people become more concerned about who they are going to hook up with, the men and women start scoping out the place to see who looks cute or desperate. It was very fascinating. 1:45 people are paired up or testing the waters, if one isn't receptive... on to the next until the missile finds it's target. 2:00 is closing time. You see the staggering people straggle out, the taxi cabs and police officers line the streets. It is so interesting to watch a bunch of people that have been drinking when you are sober. Maybe I'm weird... I actually like taking care of them. My opportunity to nurture someone when my children are gone... come to think about it drunk people are a lot like children, you never know what they are going to do, what they are going to say or when they are going to embarrass you. I closed the bars both nights and am so tired.