The Single Life

Arghhh!!!

So I read an article today and I wanted to blog about it but now I can't find the link to link back.

*sigh*

Oh well. The article - I thought it was on Slate but can't find it now - was regarding the demise of the + 1 wedding invitation.

The writer of the article - a man - described how, even though he'd been dating his girlfriend for more than a year, was told in no uncertain terms on 2 separate occasions - one his own brother's wedding at which he was the best man - that the bride and groom had not included a + 1 for him in the head count, that only guests who were married or engaged were given that privilege, thus leaving his girlfriend firmly on the uninvited list.

This, of course, was upsetting to him.

Now I've not had many occasions to attend weddings - particularly lately - but I don't recall ever having received a + 1 invitation. And, if I did, I certainly didn't use it. I was once a date to a wedding. And it was a good time all things considered. But, generally speaking, the weddings I've gone to have been small affairs in which I participated and I never felt the need to bring a date.

Of course, that could have to do with my overall general opinion of dating.

However, as I was reading the article, I was reminded of that scene from Bridget Jones' Diary in which she is invited to attend an uncomfortable supper party at a friend's house, a party at which all other guests were coupled up leaving her the lone singleton, and I was vaguely distressed.

I love being single.

I love having my freedom to do whatever I want to do whenever I want to do it with whomever I want.

You won't hear me complain about the single life. That's a guarantee.

However, the older I get, the more I appreciate having various companions with whom I can go to events such as weddings and supper parties without being married, engaged, or committed long term.

To deny me the option of being accompanied by someone whose presence I enjoy, who I would choose based on his or her appropriateness and congeniality, who I could dance with, talk with, crack jokes with when everyone else is occupied simply because I'm single...

Well, I find that a bit offensive and inconsiderate.