Arizona Daily Wildcat Online
sections
Front Page
News
Opinions
Sports
Go Wild
Live Culture
Police Beat
Datebook
Comics
Crossword
Special Sections
Photo Spreads
Classifieds
The Wildcat
Letter to the Editor
Wildcat Staff
Search
Archives
Job Openings
Advertising Info
Student Media
Arizona Student Media Info
UATV -
Student TV
 
KAMP -
Student Radio
The Desert Yearbook
Daily Wildcat Staff Alumni

Going solo not best route


Photo
Laura Wilson
By Laura Wilson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Print this

You always remember your first time

I'm afraid of a lot of things: the dark, bathroom door handles, dogs larger than my torso, Dave Matthews, dogs small enough to fit in my pocket, centipedes, the government, having to find a "real job," musicians who use the term "organic" and doing things by myself. Of all of these terror-inducing phobias, doing things by myself is the most complex and confusing to understand, and I have no clue as to why.

A few summers ago, I took out the world's largest loan and backpacked through Europe for five weeks by myself. I thought that if there were ever an opportunity for me to get over my social codependence, that had to be it. For the first few weeks, I enjoyed the solitude. I loved waking up to new adventures and not having to answer to anyone. I loved the multitude of one-time only conversations I had with other travelers. I loved everything about being alone, for the first few weeks.

I've never admitted this, but for the last seven to 10 days, I hated the whole "solo" thing. I wandered the streets of Paris wishing I had someone else with whom to share my amazing finds and anecdotes. Calls home became more frequent, as did days spent watching the clock. It became clear to me when even the mind-altering experience of Amsterdam could not cure me of my fear of doing things by myself that I had a much bigger problem than I ever imagined.

The crazy thing is that I love being alone. Prior to my current situation of "living in sin," I lived alone for five years. It's just the act of having to leave my house to do something by myself that freaks me out. I can handle the simple stuff: grocery shopping, wandering around the mall and going to the doctor. However, actually having to make medical appointments, getting my oil changed or dining alone can pretty much ruin an otherwise beautiful day in my generally even-keeled world. I know, I'm sort of crazy.

It was with great trepidation that I went to a bar alone last weekend. I have lots of fun with my friends at bars, so why not try to experience the magic by my lonesome?

Let's just say that the only magic I experienced was the wizardry of lame pick-up lines and the sorcery of creepy leers. Apparently, if a girl is sitting by herself at a bar, she must be looking for love or something like it. When I politely declined the offer of Gentleman No. 1 to buy me a drink, he no longer wanted to talk to me. In fact, I think he mumbled something strangely offensive as he quickly walked away. When I told Gentleman No. 2 that I did have a boyfriend, he was no longer interested in my company.

I lasted a total of one vodka-and-tonic (the liquid equivalent of 20 minutes) before I called my friends to come and rescue me. If traveling and alcohol can't cure me, I have no clue what can.



Write a Letter to the Editor
articles
The way of the gigolo: What happens to old men when their pension runs out
divider
Tucson and campus calendar
divider
Scatter shot
divider
'Howl' for the Shout Out Louds
divider
'Turtles' stands up as good B-movie
divider
'Derailed' runs on well worn tracks
divider
Going solo not best route
divider
Catch the Slowburn at Emergenza
divider
Culture Jamming brought to campus
divider
Green Day doesn't disappoint with new DVD
divider
Black Heart Procession vamp into town
divider
Deerhoof defies description, set to rock Tucson
divider
Madonna Straddles the Dance Floor A Lot
divider
Restaurant and Bar Guide
Housing Guide
Search for:
advanced search Archives

NEWS | SPORTS | OPINIONS | GO WILD
CLASSIFIEDS | ARCHIVES | CONTACT US | SEARCH



Webmaster - webmaster@wildcat.arizona.edu
© Copyright 2005 - The Arizona Daily Wildcat - Arizona Student Media