Keep In Touch. Or Not.

I've always found it interesting how the dynamics of friendship work, especially after distance separates individuals. Friendships come and go, but some endure the graduations and new jobs, and ultimately the test of time. As I like to sit around and take in my surroundings (and people watch), I've observed a lot of personal interactions and given them some thought.

In any given relationship there is always an initiator, regardless of how close two people can claim to be-someone who starts the conversations; someone who lays the framework of any plan. The "initiator" values the friendship more than the other individual does and values these interactions at a much higher priority. I quickly noticed this growing up, as I tended to be the initiator. As someone who generally keeps to myself, this was ideal as things tended to happen on my terms.

I became deeply aware of these interactions in high school, despite having little desire to be social, and this greatly shaped how I keep in touch (or in this case didn't do so) with those I went to high school with. With college occupying all of my time and energy, I would no longer initiate interactions with those from high school, and consequently I have fallen out of touch with just about everyone I had known then. These days, I rarely acknowledge my time during high school, as none of my current interactions (or anything in my life in general) needs to acknowledge that time, and almost everything I do draws from the past as far as my undergraduate times.

While my life is generally consumed by graduate school (and hopefully graduating someday...), I still find time to keep in touch with a small handful of friends I made during my undergrad days. Once again I am the primary initiator in these relationships-every message; every Skype call; every visit. Perhaps I'm being too overbearing; intruding into everyone else's lives when they have already moved on. One day when I have new priorities and have less time and energy, these too will fall by the wayside. That's how it will generally be, because that's how it's always been and will always be.

A Classical Audience

As an attendee of classical music performances and a people-watcher, it's always interesting to take a look around before and after the concert and during intermission just to see the faces and styles through the crowds. Most patrons tend to be older (and definitely many in the senior category), and most are somewhat dressed up. Most gentlemen are wearing a button-down shirt and/or a jacket with pants, and the ladies tend to dress up as well (I'm not very fashion oriented as you can guess). While many concertgoers don't stand out from the crowd, there are always those that we all know and (tend not to) love.

The cougher
These people decide, against their better judgement and courtesy to fellow concertgoers, that the symphony is always the place to go when one is sick. Not only do these people cough and generally cause commotion between movements, but they're also the source of coughing during the music itself. These individuals also tend to bring throat lozenges, leading to the classic crinkling noises that punctuate the space between movements and any and all solos. These tend to mostly be elderly patrons, but no demographic is immune to having these among their ranks. Additionally, these folks don't understand how to turn off their phones.

The napper
These patrons do the exact opposite, and generate no noise. They can be spotted from rows away, provided that they're sitting in front of you. Characteristics of sitting behind one is having an unobstructed view of the stage. Most of these individuals tend to fall in extreme age groups-the elderly or the younger adults. If the don't wake on their own they are often prodded awake by a fidgeter with whom they attended the concert.

The fidgeter
Fidgeters are characterized by the complete inability to sit still at all, and can be characterized by the endless background noise generated throughout the concert. Oftentimes their movements are coordinated with the beat in some way, whether it be head-bobbing, toe-tapping, leg-brushing, or knee-swinging. The movements and light tapping sounds made are always off-beat, making it highly likely that these people may attend sporting events where chants and cheers get exponentially faster. The fidgeting is only temporarily remedied when holding the hand or arm of a significant other, who is most likely also a fidgeter or a napper. Occasionally humming can even be heard, which is naturally out of tune and most likely in the wrong key.

The hipster
Hipsters stand out like a sore thumb at concerts. Just like in everyday life, they feel like social conventions don't apply to them at concerts, so the still wear what they would out on the streets. They may be seen wearing flannel, jeans, and boots, and some even don't remove their beanies in the symphony hall. They are generally not noticeable when the lights go down except for their beanies obstructing the view of the stage. During the intermission they can be seen enjoying a cup of coffee and congregating with other hipsters. Many of these individuals are also fidgeters and, aside from senior citizens, require the most time in the restroom during the break.

The casual
While these people do attend concerts, they feel no need to treat concerts as an event. They stand out in their t-shirt, jeans (or even shorts), and sneakers (and possibly a fedora), and it's also likely they don't own any button-down shirts. Casuals tend to be college students or young adults who work in engineering or tech, where dressing up is a no-no. Speculation is that they may be a root cause of applause between movements.

The family
Type I: These tend to be families that enjoy classical music in a broad sense, and tend to be spotted throughout the season. These families are typically well-dressed and well-behaved, and tend not to stand out other than when you run into the children because they're below your line of sight (or obstructed by your intermission beverage of choice).
Type II: These families tend to only attend performances featuring the most famous soloists (and those of their native country). These families generally have no interest in the broader realm of classical music; instead zeroing in on the featured performer. They are instantly recognized pre-concert with the hurried shuffling of the children by the parents into the auditorium and by how they stand out with their dress. Tiger moms are particularly easy to spot, as embroidery is often featured on clothing that accompanies a stern look and pursed lips wherever she may turn.

The bro
These are the rarest species of all, as most bros tend to have zero inclination of attending these concerts. Legend has it that if a group of bros shows up at a performance the venue will run out of alcohol during the intermission. Bros are easily spotted in their t-shirts and basketball shorts paired with either basketball shoes or flip flops.