The magic of parties

In case I haven't mentioned it before, I love parties.

I think it's absolutely fascinating that you can go to a party, meet a complete stranger, and within five minutes find out that her triplets were the result of in vitro fertilization. How wonderful is that? When was the last time you approached someone at the Dairy Queen and found out that she doesn't drink Diet Coke because saccharin is connected to brain tumors and she doesn't want to get another tumor? If there was ever a thing as social magic, it happens at parties.

My favorite part is the debriefing that happens afterwards. Every replayed conversation offers a surprise as everyone contributes something to the puzzle:

'I thought K was a real lightweight. She was slurring her speech after half a beer.'

'Oh, that had nothing to do with the beer. She's actually missing 25% of her tongue. No one ever understands a word she says.'

In the end, parties provide magic on several different levels. You have the opportunity to get a slice of intimacy from a complete stranger. In the RealWorld, you'd need to survive a Hollywood-style natural disaster together to get the same experience. And, afterwards, the party provides an opportunity to grow closer with your own friends as you talk about the shared experience.