My grandmother used to have a large pot holder hanging on the wall in her kitchen that said “PARTY! GO NAKED! THROW POTATO SALAD!” I always used to picture the grown-ups dancing around the house naked and throwing potato salad all over the place. I thought it seemed like it would be fun. Now that I’m a grown-up myself and realize how unrealistic a scene that would be, I REALLY think it would be fun!
The last time I went skinny dipping with a group was in my 20’s, before I was married with children. The last time I really let my hair down was at my own birthday party two years ago when we dressed as ‘70’s icons, danced crazily for hours and had a battle of the bands on air guitar. It was seriously fun. But that was two years ago! Oh I’ve definitely had some great times since then, but there’s been no naked throwing of potato salad.
I’ve read that behavioral inhibitions are controlled by the frontal cortex of the brain, which isn’t even completely formed until we’re in our 20’s. Is that why we did such crazy fun things (though sometimes stupid) as teenagers? Would a food fight even seem fun now that we’re “grown-ups”? Would it even occur to us to have one?
You can’t really plan these things – part of the fun is the spontaneity, the spark of the moment. But as I plan our next barbeque, I’ve decided to ditch the Martha Stewart mindset and opt instead for something more… let’s just say energetic. We grown-ups need to add more “play” to our lives. We need to loosen up and stop trying to recreate (consciously or subconsciously) Pottery Barn catalogs and House Beautiful magazine.
So how will YOU add more fun to YOUR next barbeque? I’d really love to hear your ideas! You just might want to serve up some potato salad. Lots of it.
