The time I was a security guard

A memory

No, really. I’m not kidding.

It was the summer of 1998, and the boys at the fraternity house down the street were working for a security company that needed hands for their upcoming Stevie Nix concert. Looking back, it’s hilarious that the boys decided to call the sorority house for “backup security” but hey, whatever works right? They were paying something like $12/hr under the table for us to go hang out overnight to watch the venue, so a bunch of us decided to go.

We arrived in a group and the manager asked us all to come with him so he could tell us what to do/assign our posts. Except for me, who he instructed to “Stay right there. I’ll be right back.” That being my only instruction, I stood there waiting. About 30 seconds after everyone left, a huge black SUV came barreling past me. I didn’t think much of it, having been given no other instruction than to wait. Apparently, though, it should have been second nature for me to know to throw myself in front of the speeding vehicle, as I got yelled at for letting him through the open gate. Perhaps I was not cut out for this …

After that our groups were placed together, and it would be me, Erin and Will watching the main gate all night. I didn’t know Will before the night began, but it’s amazing what 7 hours overnight with someone will do to fastforward a friendship. After that we were great buddies, which was awesome news for me because he was the ID-checker at a local bar we all frequented, and I wasn’t yet 21 …

I don’t remember anything about what we all talked about. I do know it was deep and profound and meaningful, the kind of conversation you can only have in the middle of the night. I also know not a single other vehicle even approached the gate during our entire shift, so it was uneventful. Around 7 a.m. Erin couldn’t stay awake any longer and she fell asleep right there in the grass as the sun rose above us. Will and I stayed awake and protected the grounds while she slumbered, so all was good.

We didn’t get to see Stevie Nix that summer. We were too tired by the time it was all over so we all went home and crashed out. And as much fun as I had – apparently we were in the wrong group. The others had the job of protecting the bar, a job they didn’t do very well as the bar was countless beers lighter by the time that group was done … so unfair!