Last Night

So last night was the first time I volunteered at Integration.  It was probably one of the most fun nights I’ve had in a long time.  I got to see what it’s like for the other side, catching underaged drinkers, cleaning up the tables, and generally keeping the atmosphere fun and aggression-free.

At midnight we also had a small memorial in honor of the memory of Stevie Acuna.  It was very well done and moving with just the right amount of reverence.  I never got the chance to meet the guy, and my stance on life and death has always been to treat someone in death the way that you treated them in life.  So I will do exactly that.  He wasn’t a personal friend of mine, but he was part of the family, so to speak.  Nobody deserves what happened to him, so during the moment of silence I sent out my own silent prayer to him. “Wherever you are, Stevie, I hope you are happy.  I hope that the end wasn’t too scary and I’m sorry that this happened to you.  I hope you have found the peace in death that christians say we don’t deserve.  And wherever you are, I hope there is good music for you to dance to.”

After the moment of silence the party was jump started with more fervor than before.  Everyone seemed to do exactly as Mike suggested we should do, which is honor him the way he would want.  And I’m told he would want a badass party.

So all in all, my first night as the help went over quite well.  There was an equal mix of fun and responsibility with just a hint of liquid fun.  I cannot wait for the next time and the time after.

-A.J.