Lately several of my friends have been giving me the exact same advice. In a nutshell, they are all saying do everything I want to do now because soon my flexibility and mobility will be seriously compromised for a good long while. I don’t tend to go out much anymore for a what I thought were fairly legitimate reasons, but now that I am looking for excuses to do things, it seems like most of my excuses were bogus.
Excuse # 1: There is nothing out there that I want to do– This is the worst excuse ever. And I am ashamed to admit that this was the most common excuse I used. There is a ton of stuff happening in Portland. I just was too lazy to do the research to find out what and where. In the next few months, I now have tickets to see a storytelling event, Kids in the Hall, Phantom of the Opera and Wicked. We also went to go see a very good local production of Grease yesterday. And while we were out, we discovered a new brew pub that we had never been to.
Excuse #2: I already travel so much and tickets are too expensive, I can just wait to see my friends: I have an opportunity to see several friends and colleagues in Chicago in May. I went back and forth on the trip for a little while after seeing that it would cost me more to get to Chicago than it often costs me to go to New York. But ultimately, I decided that it won’t likely ever be as easy as it is for me to travel as it is now, and I can afford the ticket. My only issue was sticker shock. So I booked my ticket and I remain glad that I did.
I am also not-so-secretly hoping to get to see my niecelettes at least once more before the baby arrives. I am feeling a sense of loss associated with my transition away from just getting to be their aunt and always being able to give them my full time and attention. But that is a post for another day.
Excuse #3: I am too old to stay out very late and/or go to venues without seating: Sadly, this excuse remains valid. Just because I am eagerly signing up for a indeterminate amount of sleep deprivation doesn’t mean that I should start on that now. Case in point. I would love, love, love to see They Might Be Giants here on May 8th. But the show doesn’t start until 9pm, and they always have an opening band, so they likely won’t hit the stage until 10pm. By 10, I am almost always asleep. Plus, the standing for 3+ hours will add to my exhaustion. I will just have to wait and hope that I will luck into one of their kids shows in New York (future daughter is not necessarily required for this excursion) or play one of their kids shows here.
So, if you are asking me to hang out with you any time before my future daughter makes her appearance and I turn you down, feel free to bust me and make me justify my reasoning.