(One is the new)Three

Tonight, I rounded a new corner in the journey I call "singleness". I have scoffed others who have turned this very same corner and deemed it a personal taboo. I swore I'd never EVER go to the movies alone. It just seems so pitiful: no one to laugh with during the funny scenes, no one to share a giant tub of popcorn with, and no one to go refill that tub of popcorn. Movies are made to be a social affairs, and common date territory. So how does one tackle the silver screen el solo? By dressing up, of course, and finding the pros of going alone. 

I'm glad I finally conjured the courage to whip out my free Regal Cinemas movie pass, which was fossilizing in my wallet, because despite my inner shame and initial embarrassment, it was an empowering experience.

1. There was a plethora of seats to choose from. Let's face it, single movie-goers have the pick of the litter; there are always enough seats for parties of that magic number (Three is not the magic number, so you can just take that 'School House Rock' education and throw it out the window). There were no seating limitations due to the size of my group, one!

2. I didn't have to compromise where I wanted to sit for anyone. I had a sense of independence I  had never felt because I realized something about myself -  Darn it! I like sitting in the last row!

3. I spent my money on myself ($8.50 to be exact), although not rare, it's empowering nonetheless!

4. I had the luxury to choose if I was going to high tail it home OR to linger and enjoy the breezy night. Either way I didn't have to wait for anyone; I was on my own time, and I loved it!!

I used to pity the one who entered a movie theater unaccompanied and dateless, but after my full conversion tonight, I see that solo movie-watchers should not be pitied, but rather, esteemed..... for laughing out loud even when we don't have a "boo" to nudge on the funny parts.... for sitting next to strangers.... and for taking a stand (or seat) and showing others that being alone doesn't make you lonely. 

The real value from tonight was learning to enjoy myself..... BY MYSELF!!! As much as I want (and think I need) a companion to buy my movie tickets and popcorn (and more importantly, refill that popcorn) no one else will enjoy me, if I can't enjoy me. After all, I have to live with myself for the rest of my life; no one else does.

Two

Lately, it seems that Saturday nights at my house are synonymous with 3 a.m. plates of bacon, grits, and delicious cheesy eggs, movies on laptops, lots and lots of loud music, and dishes. After church, the boys come over (5 to be exact), write, and record their music in the studio which happens to occupy the bedroom in our one-bedroom condo! Imagine that. And oddly enough, the number of participants in our "bed-and-breakfast weekends" seems to grow every week as does our grocery list for breakfast foods. The music continues into the dawn- the sun is up by the time we're all settled down to go to sleep. And if its not the laughter that keeps any prudent juvenile from wandering into a lovely sleep, it's the blaring music for sure! 

Needless to say, they sleep here, nestled in large cocoons like snoring speed bumps on the carpet. 

But no one- absolutely no one goes to sleep without first sampling (or inhaling) Lawrence's breakfast creations. This morning's menu included roast beef cheddar eggs, fluffy pancakes, sunny D, and assorted hot teas. His food is simple, always well-seasoned, and comforting. What could be better? Especially at 3 a.m. My friend even harbors the humility to serve his dishes to the salivating partakers. AND cleans up after himself! Ladies, can we say "KEEPER"? 

It's a rare and glorious thing to witness a man grace a kitchen with his presence, whether he wandered in to browse the fridge, or God forbid to wash a dish. It's even rarer and more glorious to witness a man engage the kitchen appliances (all but the microwave) to create rib-sticking deliciousness. One word comes to mind when describing this sight; I'm sure you'd agree the word is "sexy". 

And I say "sexy" in the most platonic sense of the word, objectively. You see, we'd never allow the gang to stay here if they weren't all seen as brothers and cousins. So although I do admire my friend for his belief that "cheese makes everything better"and his stove-top talents, at the end of the day, all I lust over are his roast beef, cheddar eggs.