Giving Up the Keys

Sometimes in our lives we have the experience of taking about the car keys from an elderly relative. Sure, we might have their physician do it for us, and sometimes we have to physically cart away the car, we are still in essence taking away the keys. If we are lucky, the relative will realize they are no longer able to handle the responsiblity of managing a motor vehicle and hand over the keys willingly. In most cases, this doesn’t happen, but its nice to think it does.

Last night I think I know the feeling of having the keys taken away. I guess I should say of having to hand the keys over. Of course, no one took the keys away from me. C’mon now, I’m 28 and I have one of the best driving records of some of my friends. But last night I made a decision that affects my ability to be young, I’m afraid.

Last night, I went out with a few friends to celebrate my graduation. This was the more adult version of my graduation festivities. We went out to dinner at a slightly smoky bar & grill, then went on to another slightly more smoky bar for another couple of hours. By about 11:30, my sinuses had more than they could take, and were achy all over. My friends decided they would continue on with the partying and head to our favorite bar, which is more smoky than a chimney at Christmas at a house in New England.

Ok, I wanted to come home after the 2nd location change and continue with the festivities here, where I could get some meds and the smoky smell off my body. But, they wanted to continue to bar hop. When I said that I would rather not continue to the bar, they told me to wait and see how bad it was.

It was BAD! Even on the outdoor porch it was BAD! Combining my already growing headache with more cigarette smoke and top it off with loud dance music . . .this equals a recipe for disaster. After 10 mins in the bar I was headed out of the door and to wait 10 mins for my friends to discover I was gone. Finally, Samantha emerged and took me home!

When I came home I took a shower and net-pot-ted my head. After several hours of headache (and nausea) I took some allergy medication. It helped to no avail. I didn’t get sleep until after 4:30 am, only to be up at 9:00 am to get ready to go shopping with my mother.

As I lay here in bed and write this post, I still have a monumental headache. Even after several rounds of drugs and neti-pot, I am in agony. I figured by the time I was 30 I would have to give up going to the clubs and bars and be a classy drinker. But at 28 I am giving up going to the clubs and smokey bars. Voluntarily handing over the keys . . .to the bar, not the car.