I’m Tired of Being the Entertainment
As a single person, I’ve been cast into the role of court jester and I am very over it.
I don’t love writing about singlehood head-on, unless I’m joking about it, or exploring loneliness. There’s a ton of much better writing on the topic, mostly but not exclusively from Shani Silver, and I don’t know that I would add anything useful that wouldn’t somehow be twisted to pathologize singlehood. But there’s something I gotta say: I am done, as the single friend, being the entertainment.
Before I explain, let’s be perfectly clear. At this stage in my life, I love being single. There was a time that I didn’t love being single because I was panicked about it. (And I was panicked about it simply because I was told to be panicked about it, but that’s a whole other Oprah).
But now? Now I’m deeply relieved I have a house to myself. I’m deeply relieved I can make decisions without having to “collaborate.” I can adopt all the animals I want, travel wherever and whenever I want, wallpaper the ceiling of my hallway without someone telling me it’s a waste of money or too feminine. I can make a pot of vegetable stew and get in bed with it.
Mostly, I’m relieved I never had to go through the divorces all my friends went through. And I do mean “all.” Every wedding in…
