“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 618 (Wednesday) Thanksgiving Eve

There have been many chunks of lifetime where the night before Thanksgiving meant one thing and it wasn’t watching TV. It meant going out. Depending upon where one’s acquaintances were, it might mean staying at one place, or visiting a string of locations. In the Fitchburg of decades ago, if one wanted to run into former classmates, it often meant that Slattery’s or The Boulder Café were the places to be and be seen. Once upon a way-back time, there was also The Wine Cellar (may it rest in peace).

Because many people returned to the hometown for Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Eve and throughout the weekend were the prime nights to see friends. As the years increased between graduation and the current year, people fell off the Thanksgiving Eve festivities due to traveling or hosting visiting family and dinner preparations. 

The waves of younger folks filled the gathering spots, and there were times when a friend and I would enter a place packed with people and not know a soul in the mob. Funny how that works with age.

Now, Thanksgiving Eve mostly means being at home in the quietness. Since Tennessee, I haven’t hosted Thanksgiving dinner, so that isn’t even the reason. Usually, being home on Thanksgiving Eve was the result of poor planning or lack of companions with whom to carouse, and it felt like the worst of punishments. But now, it is a most welcome situation. Socializing as a singleton is hard. It’s stressful. It’s not like the days of being a student when it was easy to make friends within the confines of school and shared classes. It seems like after age 30, it is harder to make new friends with each passing year.

Canine Overlord Winston,
king of the social circle.

The reality of being a middle-aged singleton is one of usually being the odd person out. Way out. As in, often not invited to the things that the couple groups do. And there aren’t that many other singles to pal around with.

Luckily, regardless of the day (or night), staying at home has become the preferred activity. Each moment spent at home feels like receiving full value from the monthly mortgage payment. Home has become more than a place to change outfits between exciting social activities. Or maybe I just tell myself that to feel better, but in any event it’s still good.

As a working adult with a food budget and no obligation to exhibit healthy eating habits to any younglings, there are snacks and eggnog. And wine, beer, soju, and other alcohol. And while there may not be the company of any friends for the evening, there is the company of Canine Overlord Winston and the bonus of no strangers to tolerate, so it is a total win. Sadly, no medal, but still a victory of sorts.