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Having A Night Out? Um, Yeah, Don't Turn It Into A Fright Out ♥
in I Want... Life!29 Jun 2010 | 24 Comments
So one minute you're out partying like it's 1999, dancing away and singing like it's 1999 (and possibly dancing away and singing TO 1999), and then next thing you know, it IS 1999. Actually, no, it's 2010. Actually, now that you think about it, you have absolutely no idea WHAT year it is. In fact, you don't even know where you are and wait a minute, what was your own name again?!
Sound familiar? No? Brilliant, because it completely shouldn't! Sure, groove and jive your way to Prince on the dance floor like it's nobody business by ALL means (because it isn't!), but as far as being able to identify what year it is, your location and your birth name? Let me tell you with 100% sincerity that you should always, ALWAYS know this information!
Why am I telling you this, you ask? Because on Saturday night, I didn't. In fact, if you'd asked me what country I was in, I doubt that I would've been able to give you a coherent answer. And the worst part? (And there are plenty more where that came from, I can assure you!) I can't even tell you WHY. But worse still? I don't even remember any of it HAPPENING.
Somewhere between having four small glasses of champagne across an evening (and something that I should probably have preceded this tale with is that while I hardly qualify for an AA meeting, yes, I do regularly drink socially and can't even remember the last time that I was ''drunk'' - so I'm not sure that I can explain this night away with an ''oh, I must've just had too much to drink'' - especially when the drink in question WAS four small glasses of champagne over the duration of six hours!), which involved having dinner at a friend's house before making our way into the city and being out in the city, I somehow not only lost my friends, but woke up in a taxi sans wallet with a taxi driver screaming at me, insisting that he was going to drive me to a nearby police station because well, if I didn't have any kind of money on me, couldn't pay him. Fun? Oh, no. Terrifying? Uh, yes. Especially for a Virgo with instinctive control-freak tendencies, and particularly when the worst drinking-related incident that I have ever encountered prior to this was waking up in the morning with a mild headache and a hankering for McDonald's and orange juice.
I have zilch of an idea what happened in between being in the city and discovering that I was in a taxi but can tell you that during those splendid wee hours, a stranger called my boyfriend off her phone to alert him that she had found me, and that I must have been working out on an exercise bike for hours before a truck hit my body and then decided to reverse over me repeatedly. (Okay, so thankfully I can't say that actually happened, but trust me when I say that it REALLY feels as though it did and that I even have the bruises to show for it!)
The girls that I was out with have absolutely no idea what happened to me: they said that they hadn't seen me for a while, but when they finally did, I looked extremely unwell and wasn't making any sense (but not in a ''intoxicated'' way, they said - which is exactly what my boyfriend said to me the next day), but after asking me if I was okay, naturally assumed that I was. They didn't see me again that night.
I still don't know what took place after that or why, but scarily, more than a few people have suggested that they think one of my drinks must have been spiked. I'm not sure, and I probably never will be, but one three things that I have learned about that night out is:
x It's enormously important to not only be mindful of what you're drinking, but also, where you're drinking, and where you decide to place your drink during the evening. (Hint: don't. Just hold on to it.) For many, this is elementary, but for the occasionally absent-minded people like myself who are often being distracted by somebody else's moves to 1999, worth being reminded of.
x Be mindful of who you actually drink with. No, nobody should be responsible for babysitting you on a night out, but getting your cocktail on with a bunch of strangers in an alleyway or swapping drinks with somebody at a bus stop is unlikely to be a decision that you'll cherish for years to come. But sticking with people that you actually know AND trust? It's not only safer, but if you do come into the unfortunate position of being in a dangerous situation, it's more likely that they'll be able to help you. While what happened was in no way the fault of the group that I was with, the girls that I had been out with that night were ex, ex work colleagues; we only tend to catch up annually, and we don't know each other that intimately, meaning that it was probably difficult for them to judge whether or not I was okay.
x That when one of my aunties told me that she always wrote her address on her forearm ''just in case'' in anticipation of a night out, she was well and truly onto something!
♥
Bruises or no bruises, I actually feel very, very lucky, and exceptionally grateful: for starters, one of the girls that I had been out with that night later realised that she had my wallet (phew!), but more importantly, because I made it home in one piece. An immensely confused and worried piece, but all in all, a piece.
The moral of the story here (if we can all close our eyes and pretend that we're in an episode of The Brady Bunch right now)? DON'T let a night out into a fright out; hey, party like it's 1999 as much as you want to, but while you're at it, why not stay safe like it's 1999, too?
xoxo
Comments (24)
Being so drunk is never a good look and never as fun as you thought at the time. Embarrasing! I've embarrased myself more times then I'd like to remember err I'm glad I can't remember. X
2 Jul 2010, Katie, http://musicamor.com/vinny/fuckhammer/blog/
Holy crap! That is a scary story. I'm so glad you're ok! The thought of not being able to remember who or where I am is terrifying to someone like me who always remembers the details of a night out and takes great delight in relaying embarrassing conversations back to her friends the next day.
Thanks for sharing your story. It's a very good reminder to be careful with your drinks. xo
1 Jul 2010, Vitamin K, http://cupcakesandmace.com
Your drink def sounds like it was spiked! 4 small glasses over 6 hours and food in your tummy doth not equate to waking up in a taxi not knowing your own name - so that should of at least made the "walk of shame" home the next day a little easier ... although, I wish I could put my last, who am I, where am I, what year is it, whose bed is this moment down to my drink being spiked ;)
30 Jun 2010, Gaynor Alder | The Modern Woman's Survival Guide, http://gaynoralder.com
Oh Corrine, I'm so sorry you went through that. It's such a horrible thought that the world is such a sick place these days that you need to live in a constant state of fear and watch your drinks like a hawk when you are just trying to have a fun night out.
I know a few people this has happened to - it's frightening.
Glad you are ok now - and thanks for the article. We know it happens but sometimes we all need a reminder now and again - I've not been as careful as I should lately and this was a real wake-up call xx
30 Jun 2010, Kristy
Thank GOD that you're okay, oh my god. This is such a good reminder about how quickly things can get out of control, even without us knowing about it, and even when it really is out of our own control.
30 Jun 2010, Danielle
My god, I have had the same thing happen to me.
Had four glasses of wine, and I can most definitely handle my wine.
Could only afford the four glasses of wine, but woke up the next day in my bathtub and about 50 text messages from people telling me I was a crazy bitch.
It was quite amazing. And I was around people I trusted the entire night.
Apparently I drank the bar water and people think I got spiked that way.
Either way, I'm GLAD I don't remember what happened. I dont want to know. Ever.
29 Jun 2010, Te, http://musicamor.com/vinny/sparkleface/blog/
That's really scary.
I knew it could happen but luckily it never happened to anyone I know...
Really glad you're home safe, and this is really good advice, they should teach these things in schools...
29 Jun 2010, Euforilla, http://euforilla.blogspot.com
I remember this happening to a friend once - really scary. Glad you got home ok.
Poppy xox
29 Jun 2010, Poppy Gets a Life, http://www.poppygetsalife.com
Great article - and sound advice. Glad your okay *hugs* x x x
29 Jun 2010, Caroline
holy crap, that totally sucks! This has happened to a few friends of mine and even my brother! It's totally crazy that that kinda stuff goes down! Glad you are ok, how totally scary!
29 Jun 2010, kate, http://munkstuffandnonsense.wordpress.com
Unfortunately this sort of thing happens way more than you think. It's not something that a lot of people talk about though.
Props.
29 Jun 2010, Sarah
That is really scary. You have to worry about people who think it's funny/clever to do that kind of thing. I must admit I'm pretty careless about these kind of things ... but then also keep my drink insight (more because I'm worried someone will steal it!!!)
29 Jun 2010, kathryn, http://www.project-kathryn.com
(hugs way too tight) omygoshdontscaremelikethat! I'm so glad you're okay! I can't imagine how this happened to you, but I'm super happy that you survived (relatively) unscathed. Thank you for being brave enough to share the story with us and for reminding everyone that you've got to be vigilant. MUCH LOVE!
29 Jun 2010, Ellie Di, http://thewholestylenetwork.com
What a nitemare! I'm so glad you made it back home okay. I once had my drink spiked with GHB while at a club. Thankfully I was with close friends who realized something wasn't right and protected me. It's a very real danger that is more common than many girls think.
On the funny side, your comment about craving McDonald's when hungover also hit close to home. ;) xox
29 Jun 2010, Annie Spandex, http://anniespandex.com
You're a very brave woman for sharing your story and for being so honest. I was at a party one night where a very similar thing happened to me (and I had only had a
single drink, as I was meant to be driving home that night) and can honestly say that it was the scariest thing that's ever happened
to me. To realize that you can't remember anything is horrible and makes you feel
very violated. Luckily my friends found me slumped over that night and noticed that I wasn't okay and looked after me, and thank goodness that somebody seemed to have looked after you in the end, too.
29 Jun 2010, V.
OMG! I'm so glad you're okay, that is terrifying. Drink-spiking can happen to even the most aware among us...goodness that's scary.
29 Jun 2010, Michelle, http://www.wicked-whimsy.com
Lordy! That sounds terrifying - thank goodness you're alright! Whenever I go out I have only one glass of wine because I really don't like being drunk in public. Even being just a little bit out of it makes me very nervous. So, I usually babysit everyone I'm with haha. Actually come to think of it, this is probably the reason I don't like clubbing. Sigh. I'm too good for my own good sometimes.
29 Jun 2010, Raquel, http://misschiaroscuro.blogspot.com
OMG! That sound so scary Corrine. I'm glad that you made it home in one piece.
I like the advice of writing your address on your forearm, super helpful.
I usually babysit my friends when we go out (I like to drink but they like to get smashed), and when I go out with my booys they take good care of me (not even letting me go to the ladies room alone if I seem midly intoxicated).
29 Jun 2010, Julie, http://juliettemaxwell.com
Yikes! Very scary. Glad you're in one piece.
29 Jun 2010, Sadako, dibblyfresh1.blogspot.com
That is SO scary & awful Corrine! My roommate in college was drugged while in a totally "safe" situation once too. The way you are describing your experience sounds exactly like hers. Thanks for writing about this-- I always order my own drinks & keep them really close to me precisely for this reason. Glad you are okay <3 !
29 Jun 2010, Ayesha
OHMIGOSH. That's truly frightening.
My MO: Keep a hold of your drink (I often like to hold my glass with my hand over the top) and never accept drinks from people you don't know unless the bartender is pouring it right in front of you and hands it directly to you.
29 Jun 2010, Birdie, http://www.bonne-vie.net
great post, and i couldn't agree more with how ladies should be careful out there. scary stuff can happen. so glad everything worked out in the end. again, great post. hope people take heed.
29 Jun 2010, Ben
Whoa.
That's really scary, Corrine. Glad to know that you're okay.
29 Jun 2010, Bree
Oh my god, Corrine!
I'm so glad you're okay! I was like freaking out while reading it until I realised "Well obviously she's gotten home in one piece otherwise how would she have written this blog?!" *slaps forehead*
Good advice though :)
I always worry about a few of my friends with things like this.
Ah, thank god you're alright. I would have cried for days otherwise, xx
29 Jun 2010, Alex, http://stockingsneededmending.blogspot.com
