2001-06-26 - 9:18 p.m.
Young "smug marrieds" and a bit of Southern pride

*laughing* You know what, God has attitude. I'm not even going to explain that comment, except to say, that something happened tonight that made me smile in appreciation.

In other news. I bumped into half of a couple I haven't seen in quite some time. Silly, because they only live about four miles down the road from me, and we were great friends in college. I met them both my 2nd year; she roomed with me part of my 3rd year, and he was in lots of classes with me, since we shared a major. I drove 14 hours on the last day of finals so I could be at their wedding, and he's the one who held my job before me, and recommended me for it.

It's always awkward, though, for a single gal to relate to a young married couple. I've had the same problems with KaDee, who's been one of my best friends since I was about fourteen years old. KaDee is married now with a toddler and another on the way, and lives beyond easy driving distance; neither of us has managed to pick up a phone in a really long time. We have such different lives now ... I don't even have a significant other, and these people have spouses, children, and the beginnings of a structure that will shape their entire lives. I still eat Chinese food and pizzas and keep poor hours watching movies with my brother and playing EverQuest.

*sigh* If I'd been more of a fool four years ago perhaps I would also be a young housewife catering to the pitter patter of little feet; but I still believe I would have been sacrificing my self to continue that engagement. I don't miss him at all. But I do sometimes yearn for the happiness my friends have found.

I suppose I'm thinking of all this more lately because I recently discovered that another good friend of mine is on the path to the altar. The single ranks grow fewer every year and I look into the distance and see the face of Bridget Jones staring back at me: a neurotic and lonely thirty-something. Nevermind that I'm only 23 now! *laughing* But you know, it's my own fault. I don't have a social life; where do I expect to meet The One? There's still more than time enough. When I dig myself out of debt enough to enjoy a night out without wincing and clutching my wallet, I will be more free to live life and meet new people.

Anyway. Maybe I should make a bigger effort with these young married friends of mine. They're great people, and I miss hanging out with them. I've been hanging back mainly because I feel so awkward about being partnerless while they radiate contentment and cuddle their offspring. But I don't think that's really such a good excuse anymore. =)

P.S.: I agree wholeheartedly with writergirl today: You can take the girl out of the South, but you can't take the South out of the girl. That's just how it is, no matter how "morally tricky" affection for the South may be. I will ALWAYS be a Texan, and proud of it, no matter that I've now spent more than half my life in the Pacific Northwest.