Back Together Again

Do you like to experience things with a group of people? I’d have to say that sometimes I do, and sometimes I don’t. Now that I have been fully vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus, I am very much looking forward to times when I will feel comfortable gathering with groups of people again. During the pandemic, it has not been lonely at our house. In fact, we have had more people living with us than we have in years, with various older kids making their way back to our house during certain stretches of time.  Add in phone calls, Zoom meetings, occasional excursions for Taking Care of Business, and, I can assure you, that I am not bereft of human interaction. But, what I do feel deprived of, is the group experience. I mean, ordering out from our local restaurant solves the problem of I don’t feel like cooking. But, eating take-out at home does not compare, in my opinion, with a dinner out in a busy restaurant full of patrons.

Being with a group of people who are enjoying the same experience often amplifies the enjoyment. As you might expect, I’ve thought of 4 examples of group experiences that left a lasting impression on me.

A GAME: Watching our Atlanta Braves beat a tough opponent, watching them clinch a play-off berth, and countless other games. Sharing the ballpark experience with thousands of fans, cheering together, attempting to craft a successful Wave around the stands, booing the umpires. Cheering our South Carolina Gamecock Women's Basketball Team as they make a run for the national title. The hype, the excitement. All of those things create the group dynamic that you don’t experience when you watch the game on TV. Countless other sporting events create the same fan-based group experience. I love to be in the stands, where I can become part of the action!

A CHURCH SERVICE: A more reverent group experience occurs on Christmas Eve. The lights of the chapel are dimmed, a soft rendition of Silent Night plays, and all the people in the church raise candles high into the air. The soft candlelight illuminates the chapel, casting a comforting glow. The mood is thankful, hopeful, respectful, and humble. The peace and serenity link us all together as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

A CONCERT: Way back in 1985, Rob & I attended a Bruce Springsteen concert on the Born in the USA tour. The Boss’s performance was intense and energetic, and he connected with the crowd on many levels. As a group, we didn’t want the concert to end. As the show wound down, he and the band left the stage and then came back twice for extended, rip-roaring encores. Finally, they left the stage for good, the house lights were turned on, and the break-down crew started moving around on the stage. Some of the audience started to leave, but, much of the crowd, well, we were having none of it, and kept cheering and stamping our feet, refusing to follow the cues that it was time to go. After extended frenzy, The Boss and his band returned to the stage and broke into a whole set of good old-time rock and roll songs by Elvis, Little Richard, and a slew of others. The lights were never dimmed, and everyone who was still in the audience, I mean everyone, was dancing and carrying on as the music played. I know that the band was having fun. And, we were having a blast.

A MOVIE: My last example might be my favorite. One of my daughters and I were completely engrossed in the Harry Potter series. As every new book came out, we rushed to buy a copy. We enjoyed reading the books together. As new books were being published, older books were being made into movies, so there was a steady influx of new Harry Potter releases to keep us entertained. We really got into reading each book, and we really enjoyed seeing the stories played out on the big screen. It was also great fun that we did not know how the story would turn out, because there were still more books to come. We were slightly obsessed.

When my daughter was in high school, the movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was premiering at midnight. Could we? Should we? It was a school night, but nonetheless, I agreed – Let’s do it!  It became one of the most fun nights of my life. Nowadays, when a movie is released at midnight, there are often extra showings every 15 minutes at multiple theaters, which dilutes the fanbase into various locations. Back then, there was only one theater in town showing the midnight release on one screen, so every HP fan round these parts was in line together for tickets. And everyone came prepared. Many people were in full costume, goofing around, attacking, ducking and running from one another. There was banter; the atmosphere was festive and full of anticipation.  Once we were seated in the theater, an impromptu duel broke out between several of the spectators, as ‘Draco Malfoy’ challenged ‘Harry Potter’, with wands and spells flying in front of the rows of movie seats. From the beginning of the first preview, the crowd reacted with intensity—Boo! Hurray! Oh No! Yes!  The movie immediately sucked us in. I have never been with a group of people who were so collectively in-tuned to one another, and to the story, as it began to unfold on the screen. We all knew what was coming—everyone in the theater had clearly read the book.  We were all ready to be dazzled by the execution of the story – how were they going to show us this story that we loved? Together we gasped, flinched, laughed, cheered. It was unbelievably fun. At the end of the movie, the entire audience stood and applauded passionately for an extended length of time. It was 3:00am, and we were jazzed up; who could sleep, now? As a parent, I guess it wasn’t the most parentally responsible thing to do, but, man, that was a great experience, and my daughter and I still glow when we talk about it.

I’m looking forward to getting together with groups of people; small groups to talk and visit, and large groups for a collective experience. I’ve had enough Me Time for now. I’ll never give up my Me Time, but, now, you can bring on the people, thank you very much. Group therapy, that’s what I need. Let’s get back together again!