Living Single

It's funny how something you saw or heard when you were young can stay with you even as you get older, more mature... and smarter. In the same way that, if you were told as a child that you 'fell from the sky' you may believe it until you're old enough to know better, there are some fallacies which you accept as truth until it you one day realize they make no sense. Even though I know that I've faced that more than a couple times in my life, I can't seem to remember a single instance at this point in time.

So the 'sky' story is an example of something you may have HEARD. Now here's an example of something that I SAW. I saw a family- mother, father, brother and sister (just as in the story books), living in harmony. Parents happily married, nuturing, guiding, and whipping the behinds of their offspring. The offsping in question- me and my sister. Point is, I was fortunate to grow up in a stable family, with both parents. And both my parents loved each other (and still do), and remained happy together.

I'm no longer in their direct care. I'm now out of the family-at-home situation. Now I live alone, and am no longer clouded by the reality that I grew up in. Instead, I now go to work, and I see my adult coworkers, females in particular, some good looking, others not, some accomplished, others working at it. Then I look at the ring fingers. Many are empty. Some are clad in costume jewelry. The point is, my office is filled with unmarried women.

I'm sure many of these women are unmarried by choice. However, perhaps even more are not. But that little boy in me, who grew up with wedded parents, thinks it's unheard of that persons well into adulthood should be unmarried. I suppose, for me, being married and heading a happy family is something I accepted as my destiny well before it really mattered, and that mindset affects how I view other people. Is it that she doesn't want to be married? But how could she not? Is it that nobody wants her? But she's so good-looking and smart... Then again, she may be hell to live with... Looks and smarts aren't everything.

Back on point... When I take a step back, things are put in perspective. I have a number of late 20s or early 30s friends who are single (and not by choice), and as such there's no guarantee they'll be married any time soon, if at all. It's sad and unfortunately, especially if that little boy in me lives in them also.

I've been lucky. My prospects at this point are great. I just wish well for anyone who wants that companionship and just has not been as lucky as I have been.