Party of 1

This time last week I was dining at my favorite restaurant, celebrating my birthday...ALONE.

My friends were busy and it would have cost a fortune to take my kids with me, so I did what I've learned how to do so well over the past 10 years (not by choice, but simply because this is the way it is)...I made a reservation FOR MYSELF and went.

You'd think that after 10 years the awkwardness of eating alone in a restaurant would have worn off. For some, maybe that's the case. For me...not so much. I still miss the company of having someone (that special someone) sitting at the table with me. Especially on special occasions.

And if my BFFs are reading this...yes, I know that WE do most of these things together, but sometimes...every now & then, someone else needs to be sitting with me.

But there came a point where I had to decide if "Me, Myself and I" were going to continue doing the things that I enjoy, even if done ALONE, or would I just stop doing them all together?

I love life and living too much to just crawl into my shell and turn into a hermit simply because there's no one to experience life WITH.

So, little by little I learned how to do things as a "Party of 1".

Movies? Yes.
Concerts? Yes.
Plays? Yes.
Dinner? Yes.
Vacation? Not yet, but I sure have been thinking about it.

Oh, you should see the look on the faces when I'm asked, "How many in your party?", and I say, "One".

The reaction is as though I've said the unspeakable. And they repeat, "One???".

"Yep." I say.
"Just ONE".

Now for those who know me and are probably saying, "Why don't you do these things with your children?"

Well, I do as much as I can with them. But there are some things that I'd rather do with another adult (a.k.a my Husband, which I'll have one day), or just do by myself.

Do people look at me like I have a blue nose when I'm sitting in the movie theatre alone? Of course they do.

And at concerts, where most of the time there are primarily "couples"...and then there's ME...ummm, yes...they look at me a little strange.

Plays? Same thing.

And dinner? Well, I've learned to just not look over at the other tables. I either take a book, or something else to divert my attention away from the other restaruant goers who look over at me with their "Oh, poor thing, she's dining by herself" eyes.

As for the vacation...well, when I go, I'll let you know how it was.

Do I enjoy being a "Party of 1"? Absolutely NOT. But as I said...it is what it is...at least for now.

Let the DIALOGUE begin! Have you ever gone to a movie, concert, play, dinner or vacation alone? If so, why? If not, would you?

Talk to me!

Til next time...