Getting your friends together used to be easy before adult life. It meant texting, "Are you free tonight? Let's hang out!" and that was it. Now it means opening your Google Calendar and hoping the stars align. One friend is working, another friend already planned to visit family, somebody forgot they bought concert tickets months ago, and there's always that one person who doesn't answer the group chat until everybody else has already given up. The group chat is an open debate of hangout dates that don't work. Friday? No. Saturday? Someone's out of town. Sunday? That almost worked, but somebody remembered they had brunch plans. It was close, but no one actually agreed on anything. Adult life, ladies and gentlemen.
After many attempts that ended in nothing, a date finally appears. Nobody says much after that because everyone is afraid of ruining it. Everyone saves the date and gets excited for the hangout. Now, the only thing left to plan is what to eat and drink and where to go. Seeing your friends again makes the process worth it anyway. You meet for coffee and leave after dinner. One story leads to another; you catch up on everyone's lives, but you always end up remembering great old stories you shared together. Somebody remembers something embarrassing that happened years ago. The person who lived through it insists everyone is exaggerating, but everyone else knows they aren't.
The truth is, there's no need for an itinerary for a good hangout. A place to sit is enough, and food helps. After that, the conversation takes care of itself. Half the stories begin with, "I forgot to tell you..." The other half begin with, "Do you remember when...?" Hours disappear without anyone noticing.
Eventually somebody checks the time, and it's already late, and no one noticed. You had a great time, and before everyone heads home, the same promise comes back: "We should do this again soon." Everybody means it, but you won't see each other again until November.