when does the debauchery end?

debauchery (n) excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; intemperance.

frolicking (n) merry play; merriment; gaiety; fun.

…a few weeks ago, I received an invitation for a shower & bachelorette party for a good friend of mine. I was happy to go except in reading the invite the only thing I could focus on was that it was going to be a “night of drinking and debauchery.”

What exactly does “drinking and debauchery" mean? And do I really want to indulge in it.

For some reason, actually a lot of reasons, I am just hung up on the word debauchery…I can’t say that I would feel better had the invitation said a “night of fun and frolicking,” but something about the word debauchery makes this 33 year old cringe.

Honestly, I have had no desire to debaucherize for a very long time and I think that is because of the image/memories that the word debauchery just equates to – someone being ridiculously drunk (i.e., standing straight becomes difficult), someone behaving ridiculously (i.e., dancing on speaker boxes) and being ridiculously in pain (i.e., still hung-over on Monday morning) really just has no allure.

Debauchery definitely had its time and place for me – I’ll be the first to admit that I partook in it...a lot - but to be honest I’m done with debauchery.

I know that it is just an invitation, but the fact that someone had the forethought to write the word “debauchery,” honestly made me laugh and shudder simultaneously.

And do we really have to equate the ending of one’s single life to drinking all night, wearing a penis flower on your head and begging guys to buy you shots because you’ve decided to become one with another? Or maybe we should equate it with the need to be hog-tied by your friends, thrown in the back of a van and dragged to a strip club, only to be thrown out because you were too drunk and therefore slept in a snow bank for two hours and were literally frozen when your friends (and father in law) decided to come and see what you were up to. Wow – sounds like fun and yes that was a true story. I’m almost sad that I never had a night of debauchery solely dedicated to my singledom life.

The funny thing was, there we were 12 girls sitting around a table at a club…looking at each other. The music was too loud, the place smelt of bleach and our feet stuck to the ground. We were now those people that we once made fun of – wondering why “old” people wanted to relive their youth by going out to a club. Don’t get me wrong, I’m only too happy to spend time with my friends; however I would rather just do other activities.

So if, after reading this, anyone does want to invite me out, I’ll joyously come, have a few drink, dance to a few songs, but I will be in bed by 12am – I’m sorry if that makes me old or if you find me a bore (actually I’m really not that sorry) but that’s my world and I’m okay with that.

although none of this really answers my question…when does the debauchery end?