Chapter closing

Listening to: 'If We Ever Meet Again' by Timbaland ft. Katy Perry [Shock Value II]

So the weekend was all kinds of hectic. I had friends visiting, the ball, the performance, stubborn hair...you know, the usual. I mean hectic in a good way though...it was an extremely enjoyable weekend.

Having friends over was great. Being in a studio apartment as opposed to a crappy shoe-box room in a college house is so nice, I actually feel like having guests over! I wish I could've been a proper tour guide instead of palming them off to the others, but it was difficult enough to juggle ironing my sari and painting my nails with the practice!

Ah the practice. You know how the one time you manage to be punctual for something, everything else decides to go tits up? I do. There I was right on time (for once), and the others were about 20mins late. But to be fair, it wouldn't have mattered, 'cos the PA system was buggered so we couldn't do a mic check! I don't like not having a mic check before I perform. It means I have no idea of how much power I need to put in, how close I need to be to the mic, where the mic needs to be in relation to the speakers etc. What a nightmare! Our genius pianist promised to have everything done so that we would have enough time to get dressed (draping a sari takes time you know!), so I left everything in his capable hands and hurried home. Still, I was rather panicky about the whole thing.

In the end, it was OK. I watched the videos of the performance (which took way too long to get uploaded, might I add...they're now on my fb profile for those who know me and are interested), and while I guess I probably should've been a bit closer to the mic, it wasn't the end of the world. For once, I didn't hit any major bum notes and I didn't forget my words! Well I kinda almost did, but remembered just in time *phew*. There were lots of compliments, which was nice...but the one that really stayed with me was when someone said our performance brought her to tears and made her very homesick for Sri Lanka. Now that, girls and boys, is a compliment.

The rest of the ball was fun. The food was pretty good (although perhaps not as good as previous years), the DJ was mostly good (apart from when he played drum n bass...I love dnb, but it's just not 'brown party' music! C'mon dude!) and it was fun to catch up with the ol' gang.

I did realise, however, that for an oldie (let's face it, I am kind of a grandma in this place), I do spend a disproportionate amount of time fraternising with the lil' uns. I'm not sure why...and sometimes it feels a bit weird, especially when those nearer to my age are playing the "I'm too old for this shit" record. Still, I suppose the fact that the kids want me to hang out with them is a pretty good ego boost.

What I also realised was that this was my final public performance for the foreseeable future. I had kinda counted on the ball to give me my annual adrenalin kick, but no more. If all goes well, last weekend's ball was the last I'll attend as a student. I've been heavily involved with the society for the past 7 1/2 years, and this is a weird feeling...I wouldn't go so far as to say it's the end of an era, but it is the closing of a humongous chapter in my life. Thinking back...learning how to resist alcohol-related peer pressure (it's a Sri Lankan thing I tell you), staying up till silly o'clock designing programme souvenirs, organising the ball, practising diplomacy, fund-raising, and of course performing...it's been one hell of an experience. I'm gonna miss it, but I think the time is right to step out of the "oh yeah she's the one who sings all the time, she's been around for ages!" spotlight. It is kinda sad that I might never sing on stage again, but oh well.

So yeah. I'm inching towards the end of my student life. And I have no frikkin' clue what's in store. Fun times, people. Fun times.