rituals

This is the year of 21st birthday parties. Am not really getting the hype about the goodness of 21, because responsibility isn't much of an incentive, and independence, well, with most people it comes a lot earlier than 21. R21 movies are about the only legal 'benefit', but that again brings with it some form of moral responsibility, supposing you're not an amoral person.

But I suppose it's a good excuse for social gatherings, (if you're an extrovert you don't need a reason); if for nothing else, it's a good social experiment to see interaction patterns forming among strangers. It is fascinating to observe the sweetly strained dynamics that leads to the unconscious excessive drinking of unnaturally sweet Pepsi, the slipping away for lung-burning activities, breathable air and the cold comfort of other similarly antisocial people.

There's the strict avoidance of eye contact with one particular person,

or someone else making eye contact to express similar sentiments about the music.

There's the ignoring of everyone else to talk to the person you care to talk to.

And then there's everyone else.