The last single girl (and why parents shouldn't be given access to technology)

It's official.

I am the last single girl.

At least the last single girl in the 30-35 age bracket. In my city. Possibly in the state.

At least it feels that way.

Lately in my group of friends (including some former friends who are former friends because they dumped their girlfriends for boyfriends) there has been a rash of serious relationships, engagements and weddings. I am thrilled for all of these people, but it leaves the perpetually single girl (me) feeling...well, more single than ever.

What really drove home my feeling "more single" than normal was when I came home from a Memorial Day weekend visit with my parents (nothing like being the fifth wheel for my mom and dad and sister and her husband!) to find the electricity out on my block due to thunderstorms. All the neighbors on the block were hanging out on their respective porches - husbands and wives, parents and children, roommates....and Jen (me). Just Jen.

I couldn't talk on the phone because I only have a cell and worried about how long the battery would stay charged. Well, I take that back. I called my mom to ask her to look up the number for my electric company "on the computer" (huge mistake) and after 20 minutes of trying to explain how to Google search after she couldn't comprehend that the web address started with a "www" and not a "ww" I gave up. At that point, the battery on my crappy cell phone was too drained to make too many other calls.

So there I sat, just me. Eventually, I got smart and ran to the store to buy ice and some cold beer. Upon my return home I busted out one of my summer reading books and the battery operated iPod speakers I had just purchased a few weeks ago. As I sat there sipping my cold drinks, listening an all 80s playlist and reading a hilarious memoir I thought, "Ha, ha suckers, you may have company but I have cold beer on this hot summer afternoon! Take that!" And no, I did not buy a 40 (which is what most people in my neighborhood drink on their porches...or, hell, while walking/driving down the road).

Hours later, the electricity came back on and I resumed life as normal. And that afternoon I realized a couple of things:

First, I really love electricity. I mean it. I should become a fan (or "Like") electricity on Facebook. My dad/teachers in school always liked to say, "Back in the day when they didn't have electricity....blah, blah, blah..." (meaning our collective ancestors, not them personally, I am not THAT old!). Hell to the no. If I lived "back in the day" before conveniences like electricity and, even more so, indoor plumbing, I would have died. I never would have made it to see my 30s, I just know it.

Second, even if I really turn out to be the last single girl in my neigborhood, group of friends or (gulp) city, I will be ok as long as I have a few other conveniences like my iPod and cocktails!