yeti speak…

the singles strike back…

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Living in community with other ex-pats overseas provides for a lot of diversity in life.  One of the ways it is diverse is that there is a lot of contact between families (like mine) and single folks.  This is nice because many single people enjoy spending times with kids and many parents enjoy the break from their kids.  It’s also nice because singles often have a bit more flexible schedules and can do things that families with small children cannot…

The other day I called a single friend (who will remain nameless) to see if he wanted to play some basketball.  I called him at about 3 in the afternoon.  As soon as he answered the phone I could tell that something was amiss.  From the other end of the line came his groggy voice, "He-lllooo…"

He had been asleep when I called!

I couldn’t believe it.  It was 3 p.m. when I called him and he was in a deep slumber.  Now most people would see no problem with this and might even be in embarrassed by their intrusion. 

I, on the other hand, was quite offended by his behavior! 

What’s up with these single folks exercising their freedoms to sleep whenever they desire?!  The nerve.  It was as if he was subliminally taunting me with his care-free existence.  When in the last 4 1/2 years (Anna is 4 1/2) have I been able to take a late afternoon snooze?  I soon discovered through inquiry that this type of behavior is not uncommon for some of the single folks in my community. 

It feels like their sending an unspoken message to us families, "You families may get preferential treatment when it comes to planning activities, you may go to the front of the line at the potlucks, you may have all the fun on Valentine’s Day, Mother’s and Father’s Day…BUT WE SINGLES CAN TAKE NAPS WHENEVER WE DARN WELL PLEASE AND NO ONE CAN STOP US!"

Oh, well, there’s no remedy for this laissez faire attitude.  I guess supporting these solitary souls ‘ rights to play cards all night and sleep all day is a small price to pay for all they do to enrich our community life.  But I have to say, sometimes I’m a little bit envious of their happy-go-lucky-go-to-sleep-without-interuption lifestyle.  Then again, when I get a big hug and an "I love you, too, Daddy," from little Sarah I remember that it’s all give and take.

It’s all give and take.  We’re all on our own customized journey, sometimes on our own and sometimes with traveling companions…

5 responses to “the singles strike back…”

  1. Grace, your neighbor Avatar
    Grace, your neighbor

    From a Single across the street:
    Yes, I sympathize w/ your distracted sleep conditions, but I feel I should defend the lifestyle of the single sector. There are some of us, because we do not have the shelter of a family and aren’t so good at setting our own boundaries, have friends over throughout the day and overnight, who can also get in the way of any potential nap or sleeptime. My body naturally shuts down at 10-11pm (eyes snap shut after some spinning and dizziness), but some of my friends refuse to acknowledge it. Just last night a friend was over and kept whacking me in the face w/ a dishcloth when I fell asleep on her conversation. With that method, I managed to stay up until 12:30 am, and she was quite proud that she was training me to change my ways. Yes, it’s earlier than 3 am, but still not so lackidazical as other singles you may have referred to in your blog. 😛

  2. yeti Avatar
    yeti

    grace my neighbor,
    when you call family life a shelter, is that as in a “bomb shelter?” i see your point…

    so you’re saying that for some singles (don’t you just hate that word?!?) these strange sleep patterns are the result of an overactive social life that is interfering with a more traditional sleep schedule. i know i was making some generalizations AND not all of you “monads” get to enjoy the late-afternoon to early evening cat nap. i apologize to make such sweeping statements, but whether you choose your friend’s sleep patterns or not (i.e. the towel slapping is a prime example of singles abusing singles) the fact remains that you STILL can lock your door, turn off your cellphone, put in your earplugs, and take that much needed slumber time at 4:50 p.m. (should you so choose!)

    with us family-types that option means that we will only be locking the kids IN the bomb shelter with us. but i guess nyquil is still a viable option…

    in all seriousness, i know what you mean. i’m not really knocking the family structure or critiquing the monad structure, but sometimes freaky-friday life swap do sound appealing. the grass is always a bit greener.

  3. Again from that One across the street Avatar
    Again from that One across the street

    First, I would like to say that I appreciate your diplomatic efforts to free us from the stereotypes associated w/the term “single” but neither do I like to be called “monad,” which is an extremely sterile and boring term. I prefer: “barefoot and fancy free,” and I’m sure I speak on behalf of all of us in this category.

    I have to admit that you did make some very true points about the locks and earplugs (thought a facemask would have been more appropriate in my case). I did have to take my apartment key back from my friend after things got to the point where she was letting herself in and eating my leftovers while I was not home (did I already say I’m not good at setting boundaries?). And, your point about the grass always being greener is also true. As singles, we have the disadvantage of developing strange habits after living alone. Just a few minutes ago, a friend informed me of a habit of which I was completely unaware until now: that I make weird noises from time to time. It’s a shocking realization to make late in life when I was convinced I was quite perfect. You marrieds/duo-ads/burdened and heavy ladens have the advantage of your spouse telling you immediately when there is something awry. Am I right? 🙂

  4. yeti Avatar
    yeti

    you are too right about the instantaneous behavioral modification being initiated by the spousal unit. (it’s not always well received though…can you imagine?!) unfortunately, some of these quirks cannot be stopped or altered in any way regardless of marital status…and then you may end up being forced to live with someone who snores…just ask christa about this.

    but as long as you aren’t talking to yourself you should be o.k. making a few weird noises now and then. you haven’t started talking to yourself have you…have you?!?

  5. elim Avatar
    elim

    MONAD:
    Madamoiselle, O so Notable and Delightful

    Todd, I read some of your other blog entries…made me laugh, thanks!

    The Idiot and Pearl Jam:vs. are my favourites too.

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