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October 23, 2004

the pleasure principle

In every book I have read, the elements for a successful surprise-party are as follow :

1. A stack of records
2. A stack of liquor
3. Dancing guests (on the couches, under the furnitures, on the piano, on the balcony, in the bathtub, in the corners, around the stereo)
4. Explosives (for the grand finale)

I would say that in good company, #1 is the only prerequisite, because books are filled with exaggeration. Still, sometimes, they make us worry when we should not.

Tonight is my friend K’s birthday party. She worries that it won’t be all that, and I worry about people close to me finding my blog and scoffing at me for this and that, so let’s call her Josef K from now on, who is celebrating not her birthday but a wedding anniversary. I got her a little red suede pouch filled with flasks of beauty and cleaning products. She thinks we should get a plan going, in fear of guests pacing around and being bored. I picture it from here, she says. Having no set plans means that sooner or later, guests will turn their nose up, and their mouth downwards,

• I’m bored with everything! Anyone’s any ideas?
• Remember you’re not as empty as you think!
• This party definitely lacks organisation…
• Let’s take some furnitures home, as compensation.

I still think we should not get plans going. Schedules are for the workweek; on weekends I’m good for nothing, sweet nothing. Having no plans leave all doors open to possibilities, such as smearing war paint on our face and go wild in the streets! Or just stay inside quietly, but still with the possibility of painting our face, etc. Maybe it has nothing to do with what is called the pleasure principle but if you asked me to explain it anyway, this is the idea I would try to convey.

Posted by nathalie at October 23, 2004 10:38 AM