That's a Lot Of Hyphens

My cousin Denisse* who has just moved here from Minnesota has asked me to go to a bash with her on Halloween. But i'll have to dress in costume.

I've been fascinated by Halloween for years, and since i moved to the Bay Area, i've always wanted to hang out in the city at night just to have that experience at least once. But i'm not sure i'm willing to go thru all that trouble of renting a costume and stuff. Where would i even start? And i'll probably feel silly and self-conscious. And old. And out-of-place. When i wanna leave by 11 p.m. and she desires to stay till closing time (Semisonic!!). And let's face it. 11 pm. for me is highballing it.

I realize: i so want to have a life, and yet i so don't want to make an effort. It's a frigging paradox.

Denisse happens to have met this girl at work who's also from the midwest. She's this high-energy, outgoing person, while Denisse is a self-proclaimed shy girl-in-a-shell. In fact one of her many screen names is shygirl.

According to Denisse, social-butterfly-girl pushes her to get out more, and inspires her to be more gregarious. What she doesn't realize is that she in turn grants me opportunities to bust out of my normal restraints and social circles (What social circles?!!)

If an action causes a reaction and so on and so forth, perhaps it's all good karma, i tell Denisse. Perhaps the universe is a better place, i say.

Yep. All because more people are gonna be out to get drunk and stupid. Oh, but i didn't tell her that.


*Not her real name