Franny had a spontaneous sleepover at a friend’s Friday night so I ended up having the evening to myself. Sometimes, I love being alone. I love the quiet, the uninterrupted chunk of time to read, write, pay bills, or watch multiple episodes of Law & Order.
But last Friday night was not one of those happy-to-be-by-myself nights. I felt restless, at sixes and sevens, unmotivated to do anything useful or creative. Suddenly the world was full of carousing single people or contented Rockwellian family people. And, me, feeling sorry for myself.
Until a text came in. It was from my friend India. India is a divorced mother of three children. Her kids were at their dad’s, and she was looking for something to do.
Are you around for a glass of vino? she texted.
Yes! Do you mind if I don’t shower? I texted back.
Not at all! I only have one half-drunk bottle of wine. Should I stop at the store? she texted.
You don’t need to. I have a half-drunk bottle too, so combined we have a full bottle! I texted.
Be there in 15! she texted.
India showed up at my place 15 minutes later, a half-drunk bottle of Malbec in her hands. I poured her a glass of my Cabernet, and myself a glass of her Merlot. We sat on the couch, deconstructing children, husbands, ex-husbands, and on-line dating. A novice on OK Cupid, India couldn’t figure out why dozens of 30-year-old men were messaging her — one offered to be over soon to do various things to her private parts — until she realized she had inadvertently checked the “casual sex” box.
We both started yawning unabashedly at 10:30. Then India stood up and said it was time to go.
“I’m so glad you were free,” she said.
“Me too,” I said. “This was exactly what I needed.”
I walked India to the door. We hugged.
“I think we just had a platonic booty call,” she said.
“We did!” I said. “Let’s do it again soon.”
“Let’s do,” she said. Then she walked out the door into the night.
I carried the wine glasses into the kitchen. Fifteen minutes later I was happily cocooned in my sheets and pillows, suddenly quite content to be sleeping alone.
Today, I’m thankful for platonic booty calls.
I had a platonic booty call Friday night. My divorced friend and I got together and talked about our exes and dating, too. Now I have a name for it!
Excellent! It’s great to have some divorced or single friends looking for company. I’m glad you weren’t lonely after all!
I have platonic booty call phone calls with a divorced friend once in a while. It’s great for both of us because we can get out everything that’s been rolling around in our heads along with throwing in a lot of laughs and “oh my god, I need to tell you about this…” I’m grateful for being able to connect with her even though we now live 5 hours away.
That’s fantastic – I’ve got to tell my friend Julie that’s what we’ve been doing.
And thankyouthankyouthankyou for revealing the 10:30pm lights out – sometimes I feel so dang old because at 10pm I’m yawning and thinking “how can I get out of here?” but at least I’m not alone!
OkCupid: That place is crazy! But there are good guys mixed in with the crazy. I was contacted by men less than half my age (e.g. barely legal!) and men my parents’ age. I was contacted by men from around the world (and just for the record, I wouldn’t drive 20 miles for a date, let alone get on a plane). I was contacted by men with foot fetishes, hair fetishes, and other things that put them in the “oh dear God no!” category. I met some nice guys who left me cold, but at least they didn’t make me want to run screaming from the room. And finally, I met someone who makes my heart pitter patter: a handsome, smart, kind, interesting, together guy who is as surprised by me as I am by him. I’m glad I didn’t quit OkCupid before I met him….because good things can come from such a crazy place.
Fantastic! So glad you found the right guy on OkCupid. I know a lot of people who have found their SO online, it just takes a lot of patience sometimes.
I enjoyed your post. It is exactly what I needed to read today.
Hahahahahaha. I will be using ‘platonic booty call’ now (or ‘PBC’). In fact, I may surprise some friends with a PBC this evening.