Night Moves – “My Solo Party Adventure”

Night Moves

“My Solo Party Adventure“

by Kerrie Lang

The one thing I’ve never liked about being single was not having a built-in escort like my married friends. Everywhere I went, I was either accompanied by my sisters or my girlfriends.  This was due to my “boyfriend” calendar being empty and had been for a while.  Therefore, my excitement level was at an all-time high when I met a handsome school teacher.  We had been dating for about three weeks and having a great time when I was invited to my boss’s birthday party, which was a spectacular annual black-tie event.

It was a coveted invitation and I was especially excited about finally being able to show up with a guy on my arm instead of another female.  Plus, it was the kind of party where you either took a date or stayed home.

When I invited him, he seemed excited about the invitation. However, on the day of the event, he was a no-show.  As I sat waiting for the phone to ring, I was overwhelmed with disappointment, because I had bought the most beautiful gown and I was dying to wear it.  I decided to go alone, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.  I ended up having a ball, though I turned my car around three times on the way there, to head back home.

When I arrived at the party, I felt conspicuous about being alone, because I was so accustomed to being a part of a group.  I quickly found an obscure seat by the dance floor and watched forlornly the coupled ones dance the night away in their designer gowns and tailored tuxedos.

However, my misery didn’t last long, as I was soon discovered by the very handsome cousin of a co-worker’s husband who had just moved to the city…and was also there without a date.  He had a gorgeous smile, an engaging personality, and was very interested in me.

I ended up having an unforgettable evening, as we danced the night away.   Though I was equally intrigued when he asked for my number, I took his instead.  I was tired of being in an expectant state of waiting on the phone to ring and I felt this was as good a time as any to change my routine.

As I drove home that night, I felt bold and no longer date-dependent to enjoy the single life.  I felt in control of my social life, free and adventurous.   I made the decision to wait a week to call him and relished the thought of having a guy waiting on me to call for a change.

When I did call, he couldn’t hide his excitement.  He wanted to make a date that same night.  I agreed to meet him, and when I got off the phone, I was proud again of my decision to go alone to the party.  It seemed that it not only brought me independence but also brought promise.  By the way, it turned out that the no-show schoolteacher didn’t want to bear the expense of renting a tux and “didn’t know how to tell me.”  Duh!