“Have you put up any (fall/Halloween/Christmas) decorations, yet?”
“Oh, I don’t decorate, since it’s just me. You really put up seasonal decorations?”
I have had that conversation at least 20 times, since my divorce. I’m aware that there are several reasons not to decorate for the holidays. Maybe you’re working 11 days a week and you’re neither home enough to put up decorations, nor are you around to enjoy them. Maybe you’ve just announced your divorce by knocking on your dad’s door and blurting “I’mgettingadivorceI’msorryIruinedChristmas” and you don’t feel like tainting such a wonderful season with bad mojo. Maybe you don’t already have those decorations and really don’t have the funds to devote to something with no function. Maybe you just don’t enjoy the holidays, because you have no soul. Fine. Whatever. You know what’s the worst fucking reason ever, though? That you’re single.
Lack of seasonal decor is not the only scenario in which I’ve heard people use their solo relationship status as an excuse for missing out on something. I hear it when someone didn’t get the chance to see a movie in theaters, eat at that new restaurant, go to the state fair, or see that live show. Being single has stopped these people from going shopping, having a night out on the town, and attending that reunion. Maybe your distaste for eating alone at a restaurant has nothing to do with embarrassment and you just think that sounds impossibly dull. Maybe the fair is expensive and makes you fat. Fine… but if the reason you’re not enjoying yourself is because you think everyone is staring in horror at the single person buying a Christmas tree, I assure you, they’re all equally self-absorbed and probably don’t even realize you exist.
I’m not preaching the virtues of being single over being in a relationship. Far from it. I want to write the “Did I really just agree to get married again!?!?!” and “Holy shit, I’m someone’s mom!” blog posts, eventually. Statistically speaking, as long as I’m trying, I will. So… I’m going to enjoy being single while it lasts. I love the fact that I can curl up underneath my favorite chair, suck my thumb, and write a blog post, without anyone there to tell me how incredibly weird that is. If I want to shout “POTTERTHON!” and tearfully sniff the words “Emotion should be hidden like the last fucking horcrux!” when Cedric’s dad yells “That’s my boy!”, I’m not interrupted to share the TV during Duck Dynasty or whatever stupid boy show someone wants to watch. I can sing and dance to songs about how awesome the dog is, while blaring 50’s Pandora and no one gets a say. I’m even going to do so with some fake pumpkins and cheap garland in the background, damn it!
If I’m not supposed to decorate for the holidays, because I’m alone, at what point do I get to start enjoying myself? Are we still so stuck on the archaic idea that life does not truly begin for a woman until marriage? That’s a silly question, because we sure as hell are in the South. Is it not enough that I go on all of these awful dates, but I also have to sit staring out the window alone on Halloween night, longing for the days I get to dress my kiddos up in cute costumes they hate? Horseshit. In 10 years, I’m going to be trudging up a sidewalk, sleepy toddler on my hip, freezing my ass off to beg for candy I’ll probably trash and replace when the internet convinces me it’s all poison and razor blades. I’m not going to be regretting the time I spent wishing my life would start. I’m going to be remembering the night I spent watching Everwood on DVD with a friend, while we ate far too much candy and she kept snapping at me to stop swearing, because children existed and could be just outside the metal door that was at least 10 feet away from me.
Geez. They were so much subtler when we were kids.In 10 years, I’m going to listen to screams and giggles and arguments in the living room and remember that time I tried to teach myself the Thriller dance from YouTube… and failed. I’m going to stay up all night wrapping my presents with special Santa paper and bitching about how creepy Elf on the Shelf is, while longing for the days of my hot pink Christmas tree and half naked, semi-drunken, over-analyses of the stop-motion Rudolph movie.
“There are more important things than comfort: self respect! Santa can’t object to you now.”
Being single isn’t better than having a family of your own. It’s just a completely different and equally valid stage of life. Even if you want to find a long-term relationship, you’re here right now, regardless. You might as well enjoy it. I spent enough time wishing the world could spin faster, to know now how much I was missing in that moment. I almost missed all of this by getting married at age 12, so I’m not turning down the opportunity to enjoy it today and not just by going on bad dates or dancing with douche bags in bars, either. I’m going to watch Hocus Pocus before September even hits, dress up the dog, and decorate my purple foil Halloween tree, all for myself, because fuck you, I’m festive.
Belle of the Library 
Oh, Gage, how he terrifies me more than Chucky ever could…
“First I play with Judd, then mommy came, and I play with mommy. We play daddy, we had a awful good time! Now, I want to play with you.”
And after his father asks what he did, Gage’s laugh. Turrible!
Haha. Yes, that kid can easily give you nightmares, until your realize he’s just as easy to physically control as any two year-old. Lol
I am all about the shock and awe. If a kid did that to me, I don’t know what I would do. For a fact, I’d wish a firehose was readily available, because that would be fun to do to a demonic child.
I love kids, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t like it when they come back from the dead and come at me with a scalpel, asking me to play.
i want to give you a high five for you overall mentality on life in general here. you’re so right, being single is very different, but very valid. i can tell you — before i found the relationship i’m in now, i was MUCH happier single than i was in some relationships.
Thank you! I think having been unhappily married before has really given me the ability to enjoy this right now.
Absolutely. And you’re certainly not sitting idle — so obviously it all is happening for a reason :). At least in my cheesy opinion.
You don’t happen to celebrate Festivus, do you?!
I hated Seinfeld. Lol. So I hadn’t heard of it until just now.
So this December 23rd, will there be an Airing of Grievances in your library?!?
I’m not sure we’re open the 23rd, so we’ll have to see.
I find a new way to make a Christmas tree every year. I love making decorations, I just never get around to putting them up… And if I put them up, I don’t take them down. My house gets to be covered in a layer of glitter starting this time of year.
… and feather boas.
I don’t have as many as you think I do,
You couldn’t possibly.
Btw, you’re invited to Mardi Gras for my birthday. We’ll start your boa collection.
AWESOME. In Vegas or are we getting arrested in Louisiana? If it’s a misdemeanor, they’re unlikely to find it on a background check.
New Orleans!!!
You should always be festive. It makes me sad to admit that I often think back to single times and miss it dearly. I miss my pink tree 😦
I’m sure I’ll miss my pink tree, too. I’m definitely going to to take advantage.
Love this!
I am not festive. So, I have an Xmas ficus that is permanently decorated with red tinsel and purple glass high heel ornaments. I call it: Fuck you, I’m lazy. 😉
Hahahaha! Hey, thinking decorations are a pain in the ass is a much more valid reason than being the only one who’s going to be looking at them.
Agreed. If you can’t decorate your own house the way you want, then that’s pretty sad.
I am not one of those festive decorating folk. But my, how I like to drive around the neighborhoods and enjoy the ways people go about making each season their own. Over the years I have heard that Christmas should be celebrated year round. So to get into the spirit of that idea, one year I sent out Christmas cards in August. Sure felt good. I love the spirit of this blog so much. Whatever your status–single or married–enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. And, yes, I plan on getting my festivus pole this year.
Oh absolutely! People get on my case because I am 31 and I still dress up for Halloween. I don’t even listen to those soul sucking bastards anymore. And I always put up my Christmas tree within a week after Thanksgiving while blaring all the old carols and having a ball while doing it!
I feel sorry for those critics. They’re missing out.
I’m glad you agree! It’s so sad that people get so caught up in appearances that they can’t have fun!
Testing
My darling Belle,
This post was simply awesome. I laughed, I related, and was reminded of how sad I was when Cedric kicked the bucket. I also thought you should know that I have a white Christmas tree, which I decorate with pink, purple and blue bulbs. Single Christmases are equally as awesome as the more sober ones, with children and such. 🙂
You’ll have to send me a picture of that tree this year! I’m sure kiddos will be fun, one day, but not the same kind.
Reblogged this on Belle of the Library and commented:
So, I’ve promised myself (and my readership) to return to the days of more regular posting. but for the moment, I’m buried under a pile of yarn and glitter, so for now, I’ll reblog one of my favorite seasonal sentiments.