It all started in late April of 2008. Our close-knit group of friends began the harsh realization that we were graduating college. Not only were we graduating, but we were all moving to different pockets of the globe. As the time drew near, we felt the urge to go out in style. So we organized a large party. Unsure of what we wanted this party to be, we simply sent the invite, knowing people would come because we had food. Hours before the start, Alex and I took out a notebook, and began to write a list of things we wanted to do that night, as our last Hoorah. Owen and Kayla began to join the list making. Soon, Kayla and I were working on the list (still in the old, worn-out notebook) while Owen and Alex ran to WalMart to gather all our supplies.
When they returned, our list was so extensive, we had to use new paper. Hence, the beginning, of "List O' Fun". On a very large piece of butcher paper, we constructed our plan for Night O' Fun (which later became, Night O' Fun version 1.0). When we finished, the amazing creation covered an entire wall-window at the Welsey. The list included everything we could think of: from our classic Mario Kart and Whiffle Ball battles; to games we made up, such as frolleyball and the broom game; to games we inherited along our journey, like the Dragon Game. Also on the list, were things we had attempted to do and dreamed of doing. Like climbing to the roof of Lee Hall and practicing inner tube water polo in Chadwick Lake.
Next was the implementation of Night O' Fun, which I really can only describe as pure joy. We spent 12 hours, from sunset until sunrise, reliving every crazy, hilarious, fun, exciting, and slightly stupid thing we had ever done during our 4 years at Mississippi State University. In fact, I still look back on those photo albums, and see the looks of utter happiness on all our faces. We ended our amazing night very appropriately, at the Huddle House. As we all parted at 7am that morning, getting ready to shower, and some of us to put on our caps and gowns, it was bitter sweet. But we knew that we gave our last night one hell of a send off.
I write of this now, because Night O Fun version 4.0 is now in the planning stages. Brad and Sarah, who are two of only three original Night O Fun-ers left, are graduating. And the fact that this tradition has lived on for so long gives me great pride and joy. Because not only did we have the time of our lives, but we accidently created an insane tradition, that only those of us who braved 4+ years of Starkville, MS could do.
0 comments:
Post a Comment