All the Single Ladies! All the Single Ladies!!

So I'm at a church conference. After class some people have stayed behind to ask the teacher questions and I decide to listen in. I gather up my stuff, head to the front of the room, and see only one chair that hasn't been saved with stacked books and papers and coats. I sit down on the edge of it, worried that someone will think I'm trying to take over more seats than one, but I plan to immediately reassure those saving the seats around me that I will only be using one single seat.

At this point a man approaches me and asks if I'm single. Ready to defend my seat, I confidently say, "Yes. I am."  His eyes light up and he starts asking me out. And I realize that when someone says, "Are you single?" (and you happen to not be wearing your wedding ring at the moment) they are really asking if you are unmarried.  Which makes so much more sense than some guy saying "Excuse me, but I am just super interested as to whether or not you will be occupying just this one seat for the next lecture. That kind of information just fascinates me."

I sit there stunned as he tries to get some sort of response out of me. I'm thinking that I got myself into this embarrassing situation and there is no need to drag him through the embarrassment by saying, "Oh, you meant unmarried single. Whoops, I thought you meant the using one seat kind of single. Super easy to get confused, am I right?"

He tells me there's a dance and a barbecue. And would I be available to go? Was I staying in town? Do I think I could make it? I just look dazed and confused and try to give very noncommittal, unintelligible answers. Finally he gives up and walks away.

As soon as his back is turned, I run out of the room and call Rex. We both laugh at my ability to get in sticky situations.

Later that evening I miss Rex's call because I'm sitting in class (using only one seat, I might add. Single as can be).  I quickly turn off my ringer and text that I can't talk and explain why. He texts back, Are you REALLY in class, or are you at a dance?Or maybe a barbecue?  Ha ha

Very funny.  (You know, Rex, if you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it--or I mean at least reminded me to wear it, because obviously I can't be trusted to verbally convey my marital status.)

Someone get me my ring already!