It's interesting to go solo to an event. On the one hand, there are the people who wish they had followed suit and look at your freedom with a sort of envy. On the other hand, there are the people who look at you as if you are on the prowl — for their date.

This was also something I had to put up with.

As I floated around the room to chat with my friends, I noticed a few things. Some of these things were small — a glance, getting the once-over by the dates of my male friends, etc. Other acts were on a grander scale: women would make physical contact with their guy, grabbing the hand or an arm. If there was already contact, the grasp became tighter.

This kind of behavior went on for a majority of the evening. The worst of it was an instance where the wife thrust her body in the middle of a conversation as if she were shielding her husband from the treacherous tendencies of the preying single female.

It's not until times like this that I realize how much coupled women fear/loathe single women, though I have absolutely no idea why. It's not as if we are out to take their dates or break up their marriages. I just can't for the life of me figure out when we got such a bad rep.

Ironically, after getting to know me, most of the women told me how much they enjoyed meeting and talking with me. Go figure.