Quote:
Originally Posted by Waldo
Lesson #2
Handling the Holiday Season With Singular Ablomb
Even for me and my bachelor loving ways the holiday season presents a unique challenge. How to gracefully accept or decline all of those invitations to parties where the happily coupled are the norm?
Event triage is the answer. Quickly slice and dice an event for the likely percentage of those going stag. Is it a dinner party? It's likely to be couples. Is it a cocktail party? There's a better than average chance there will be *some* solo folks there.
Once at an event if you find yourself unexpectedly surrounded by couples don't freak out. There are great times to be had with couples and they don't even involve taking your clothes off!
First find the most unlikely looking couple and sidle up to them. Don't you wonder how they got together? Find out! Ask them how they met, who asked who out and more importantly, what was it thaat made them realize they were smitten?
Next find the couple dealing with some turmoil. They aren't hard to find. There's always some couple with barely contained hostility bubbling under the surface. Be a good sport and help to diffuse the situation. Engage one or both of them in a conversation that will help them remember why they are together.
If all else fails there's always the option of leaving early and heading to the local watering hole for a cocktail and flirtation with others who've been in the exact same position as you all night.
Whatever you choose, keep a smile on your face and never let them see you crying into your beer!
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Waldo,
Thank you for the wonderful advise. I have been alone for quite a few years now and being in the corporate world for most of it, I have attended many cocktail parties. I actually used the same initial question (how did you meet?) when faced with a couple and it is a wonderful conversation starter however, I have never been bold enough to approach the hostile couple (yes I can spot them too). Perhaps your approach will give me the confidence to approach them the next time I am in the same situation.
Peace,
'iz