Thursday Link: Things Not to Say to a Single Woman

I enjoy it whenever someone reminds the world that being single and female is honestly not the worst thing that can happen, because it’s really not.

Of course you don’t have to say things to insinuate it. I was recently at a classmate’s wedding. You know, the one who officially makes me the 10-percent forever single. I met a truckload of long-lost classmates, all wearing black, all busy working in some sort of therapy (occupation, speech, physical, mental). Somehow a few of us wound up in conversation with an even older (married) woman in black who spoke about her single days, crammed in an attic with other singles, living on leftovers from their dates.

“We had such good food every night, and we didn’t appreciate it,” she sighed. “When you’re single you just don’t appreciate these things.”

I was immediately jealous that her dates were so generous with the food. Mine, although usually employed, rarely spring for dinner. (And I, with the unfeminine ability to devour an entire entree and then peek at the dessert menu, rarely have leftovers to bring home.)

“I appreciate it!” I protested. “Sometimes the food is the best part of the date!

I immediately felt an uncomfortable shift, and when I glanced at my classmates they were gaping, rather. Had I taken the conversation into awkward territory? Had I done the  equivalent of declaring that “I love chemo! You lose so much weight!”?

The conversation broke up after that, although I suppose it would have broken up faster if I’d just nodded and smiled: “Yes, singles don’t appreciate the goodness they have.” 

For the record: We do! At least, I do. I appreciate everything about being single – my parents would say too much. And when a fellow takes me out to eat, I definitely appreciate that too.

It’s always nice to hear someone make singlehood sound like the good old days. It sure beat when they make it sound like a terminal illness. Which brings me to the link: Things you really shouldn’t say to single women. (Link goes to Huffington Post.)


3 thoughts on “Thursday Link: Things Not to Say to a Single Woman

  1. I would like to make up a QR code with that link and flash it to anyone who says any of the mentioned things. Wouldn’t that be a great response?

  2. Sigh. When did men stop feeding women? Another great perk of dinner (besides assuaging hunger) is that if there are any awkward pauses in conversation, one can suddenly be really occupied with chewing.

    It has come to such a point that whenever a guy pulls up in front of a restaurant, he earns 500 bonus points automatically.

    This morning the Korean woman at my cleaners asked me how old I was, and I replied “27.”

    “So young! Have fun when you’re young!”

    “I don’t know how to have fun.”

    Unless I can call that 900 page book I’m reading “fun.” Then I’m a party animal.

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