|
Singles
Day
By:
Laurel Ross
As
a woman who has spent more time as a single than as
a couple, I am extremely conscious of the benefits inherent
in couplehood. For starters, couples get presents for
birthdays, anniversaries, and that most dreaded of holidays,
Valentine's Day. Singles get only birthday parties.
And that sucks. The adult world is designed for couples.
Restaurant tables are designed for twos. Vacation packages
are priced per couple. Church and synagogue memberships
are geared to couples and families. Attending a New
Years Eve event alone - people ask what's wrong. Going
out as a threesome is considered unacceptable by many.
Out here on Long Island, being a single under the age
of 55 puts you at odds with all societal expectations.
And they are all exacerbated on February 14. Without
fail, once a year, in February, all the feelings of
singledom that you can cope with during the rest of
the year explodes in emotion. You can try and avoid
it, but it is inescapable.
So
I propose that we fight back and create a new holiday
- Singles Day. It would be a celebration of the freedom
and independence of those who are not a part of a couple.
Needless to say, champagne would be the preferred drink
of the holiday. Anyone who is part of a couple would
have to send a card and gift to friends and family who
are single. Restaurants could have a special dinner
for one, so that they would be packed with single folk,
each being treated with respect instead of scorn and
disdain. There could be Singles Day Parties, and a special
phone rate from the phone companies - call your single
friends and make them feel good! Hallmark could make
a ton of money selling Singles Day Cards and promoting
those little trinkets that they make up for every holiday.
Singles
Day should be held in the Spring, preferably in the
beginning of May, when the flowers start to bloom and
the days become longer and warmer. Singles Day would
be a celebration of all that is special in the individual,
and we all know there is plenty to celebrate in that
respect. We could start a movement, demanding that Singles
Day be recognized as an official holiday. Then we could
get the ball rolling by forwarding this column to the
greeting card and restaurant industry. Once businesses
know they can make money off Singles Day, things could
start to look up for us. Come on folks, we deserve a
day of respect and an acknowledgement of the challenges
of single life. Together, we can make Singles Day a
reality!
Editors
Note: Laurel Ross welcomes your (gentle) comments. Her
email is LaurelRoss39@aol.com
|
