Fling Weekend

April 19, 2009
Fling Weekend @ UPenn

Oh, how I despise fling at Penn.
A weekend that starts Wednesday night.
Drinking, drinking, drinking, and drugs.
Drinking in the open.
Stumbling around, tripping over curbs, hanging on the shoulders of blearly eyed friends.

Sirens blaring as ambulances come to help those students intoxicated beyond the point of blackouts and into sheer unconsciousness.
Why can't we all just acknowledge our limits? Why can't we take the advice my roomate has disseminated--"Tipsy, not trashed!"? What happened to the natural high of being among friends, under the beaming sun, surrounded by cherry blossoms, music, and daffodils, and tulips. This true beauty surrounds us, why must it be hindered by a blanket of intoxication?

I chose to run away from fling this year. I spent Friday night, instead of swaying to Akon in the weedy fumes of Franklin Field, among great friends dancing to salsa, bachata, merengue, and reggaeton downtown. And I enjoyed it! I learned more about my friends' aspirations, their limits, and their everyday life. It made me feel good. Really good, and not the good that comes with a temporary high or buzz.

I like spring, but I don't think you need to enjoy it with a beer in one hand, a rum and coke in the other. I choose to enjoy in running in the sun, down the river; walking to the market; walking in the night without a heavy wool coat.

So, this year, I decided to avoid fling and I don't regret it at all!