I had a moment’s worth of ‘young again.’ It smiled awkwardly
from the formal script of a ‘plus one’ wedding invitation. I grinned sheepishly in
return.
I am not sure why being addressed as ‘Bettejean and guest’
amuses me. This is, after all, a tangible reminder I am no longer half of a
taken-for-granted pair. My name is now a stand alone—a stark and solitary
figure floundering in a landscape of dedicated twos. It could (and maybe
should) make me feel the pain of being old and left alone, but in a peculiar
way, it doesn’t.
I associate ‘plus one’ with young adults, although my recent
sense of ‘young again’ is not a throwback to personal experience. ‘Bettejean
and guest’ is uncharted territory, an alien landscape yet to be explored.
My name has always tagged along behind the ‘and,’ never once
preceded it. I was eighteen when my name detached itself from the second line
of invitations to my parents in order to round out the line ‘addressed to
George and….’
Through years of events and parties, I always knew who was
the better half. With him gone, I do not take new invitations for granted. I
never thought until this one came along I might be invited simply for myself. And
whomever I bring along. On the one hand, leaving the choice of guest to my
judgment seems a little risky. On the other, I do have a proven track record of
choosing only the best.
I am so glad my daughter will be home in time for this
event. I hope she is willing to be my plus one.
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