19.9.09

The Dangers of Spontaneity


It has been said that spontaneity "...is the quality of being able to do something just because you feel like it at the moment, of trusting your instincts, of taking yourself by surprise and snatching from the clutches of your well-organized routine, a bit of unscheduled plea". 

To be completely honest, I would classify myself as a "poser of spontaneous behavior". Yes, I follow the occasional urge to grab a chocolate-sprinkle donut...I skip a class every so often just to nap...I'll buy a hideous dress on impulse...but nothing too big, too unordinary. [Note that my "spontaneous" behavior nearly always involves some sort of a fattening food (ie-the donut, McDonald's fries, Dip-Tops).] 

However, this trivial, food-inspired spontaneity was not the case last Wednesday. 

First, you must meet my friend Sarah (on the right).

Sarah and I decided to pull an all-nighter for a test we had Wednesday evening. We start studying about 11, and work diligently until around 3, motivating ourselves with phrases like, "We are just practicing for law school" and "maybe we can beat Holly on the test". 

Around 2 AM, all enthusiasm for studying was lost, but never fear, we set out to entertain ourselves. I wonder at what age that the late night, delirious giggling stops. You know, that stage where you are so tired that everything is funny? Apparently, at almost 20 years old, the late-night, maniacal laughter still happens. 

3:00 AM: after wasting about an hour, we decided to get back to studying. Except this time we had a better plan. A truly SPONTANEOUS plan, if you will. We were going to study by taking a walk around campus, quizzing one another over the material as we walked! 

At this point, I must pause to tell you that while we were blinded by the "spontaneity " of our plan, we are not completely stupid girls. Obviously, two women walking around campus at 3 in the morning isn't the best idea, and we knew that. However, fault number 1 of being spontaneous is that your excitement causes you to justify what simply shouldn't be justified. Like in this case, overall safety. We justified our plan by bringing along whistles (for all those people out at 3 AM to hear), our phones (duh), and big flashlights to guide us in our "journey". 

So, off we went and man, we feel safe! There are cops everywhere! Nothing can happen to us! We are going to dominate sleeping Holly on this test! We reach the edge of campus and begin to quiz one another. "Before housing the College of Arts and Sciences, what was Ellison Hall?" "Who was Goddard Health Center named after?" "What campus building is shaped like a-------"

Sarah and I look at each other; a cop has pulled to the side of the road, exited his car, and is walking towards us. He asks us what we are doing out so late. In our nicest, Sunday School voices, we explain to him that we are merely studying for a test and we have taken many precautions for being out at night-we proudly show him the whistles. 

He proceeds to tell us that there has been two robberies in the last hour within a half-mile radius of where we were. The man is on foot. He has not been caught. We freak. We run home. The next day we find out that the man on the run is a legitimate nutter who is stalking one of our friends...yeahhhhh, we are lucky. 

As exemplified, true spontaneity often involves a risk, even danger. The question remains: are the risks worth the result? While I am not necessarily proud of our "late-night prowl", it did serve to provide Sarah and I with some life lessons and an unforgettable memory. Plus, I think we both passed the test. ;)


1 comment:

  1. This is hilarious every time I read it haha!! And I did not know you guys were trying to beat me on the test lol you guys are so silly. I love you so much!

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