WC #21: One is the Loneliest...

"One"

So... I was driving home from work tonight and the song I posted on this blog was on the radio. As I was listening and singing along my mind was wandering as it often does; especially thinking of times when a particular song was popular...

Like many of my generation, this was one of my favorite songs in its time. In fact, I liked a lot of Three Dog Night's songs. I liked a fairly wide variety of songs in my youth, although then there weren't as many genre's to choose from as there are now. Typically, though, I liked songs that were happy, had an upbeat tempo and "were easy to dance to," as they always said on American Bandstand.

Knowing that I typically liked happy songs, as my mind was wandering, I thought why on earth did I like this song? It's definitely not a cheerful song. It doesn't bring comfort. If anything, it even makes the number two a downer, saying that you can basically be alone even if you are a couple; a REALLY depressing situation to be in; to still feel alone when you have someone in your life!

And this time of year?!?!?!?!?  Sheesh! Could I get any more singles websites to send me special invitations to join? (Tried some of those and the best it's gotten me is a sure fire way of being able to spot a scammer!) Anyway, this time of year I'm always reminded of my friend Jim. He was one my photo center managers when I was a district manager over the state of Montana. I was talking to Jim before Christmas and asked him if he'd begun working on his 3 month merchandising plan for Valentine's Day. He got pretty upset with me and in no uncertain terms told me that there's nothing worse than being a single man on Valentine's Day and he refused to think of doing anything to promote the holiday. (Obviously, he'd never tried being a single woman on Valentine's Day!) So, I went to work. 

I talked to my counterpart over the Jewelry division, because I knew that she knew a single Jewelry district manager in Idaho who was about Jim's age. As we talked about the two of them, we really thought the two of them would get along well.  So, I gave Jim Kirstie's email address; Belinda gave Kirstie Jim's email address and we both went to work convincing them to give it a shot... Jim & Kirstie have been together now since about 2005! I've managed to bring a couple of other couples together as well, but Jim & Kirstie's story is my favorite!

Anyway, I digress... back to "One."  So, why did I like that song? It's kind of "the chicken or the egg" type thing. I've always hated being alone or doing things alone. At least as long as I can remember, but would I be as bad as I am if it weren't for this song? Most people I know are fine being by themselves. They enjoy going to dinner by themselves. They love going to movies by themselves. I HATE doing anything by myself! I feel like I'm wearing a big neon sign on my forehead that says "Loser! Look who couldn't find anyone to go ____ with her!" Of course, I know no one else probably even notices that I'm alone, let alone CARE about it!

My good friend Barb has always told me that when I'm traveling for work, I need to just go up to a man sitting alone at a table at a restaurant and ask if I can join him! She says that's how I need to find a man! Or, I should go to a movie and scan the seats, find a man sitting alone and go sit by him! Seriously?!?!?!? Who does that? And I'm not even desperate to find a man! Yes, companionship would be nice.  Someone to retire with. Someone to travel with, but seriously? Could you do that? Well, I know Barb could. That's just how she is! She talks to anybody in any place and has no filters. If she wants to know something about someone, she asks. Not me. I play the whole thing out in my head first and if anything leads me to believe I could offend, the conversation is just NOT going to happen! I frequently wish I was as uninhibited as she is!

But, back to the chicken... have I always liked the song because it reflects my feelings? Or do I feel the way I feel because my dislike of being a "1" was reinforced by the song lyrics? Wow! All that just because a song came on the radio on my way home from work! I think I'm disturbed...

Anyway... let's end this with a much happier, enthusiastic, popular hit also performed by Three Dog Night! I always did like frogs... but do I like frogs because.....

Joy to the World

Three Dog Night 1971