BLOGG # 93 JAZZ AND A LONELY HEART or- LAURIE GETS HER GROOVE BACK!

I am ,as my readers know, one of the new breed of emancipated single women who are living a very meaningful and fulfilled life-ha! It is true that my life is leagues away from my compatriot of the nineteenth century, for after all, my life in many ways resembles the life of a single male of my age.- weellll --much better actually- when I honestly compare it. After all here I am going to the theater and Cinema and Opera on my own and feeling very comfortable about it. Don't I with panache enter alone into my favourite trendy oyster bar and enjoy a dozen or so with a glass of chilled white wine? Yes indeed my life is full and yet there is one area of it that is not fulfilled. What is unfulfilled is the Nightlife which is reserved only for single men and "coupledom"- my word for a life ruled by couples. I have not been into a bar featuring jazz in years because I have not felt emancipated enough to do so on my own. I know, I know, cowardly of me dear readers and sorry to disillusion you on that point of weakness on my part but I could not summon up the courage to do so --yet. Last Friday evening however I went, as I usually do on Friday evenings, to my local community center to exercise in the pool. Now this community center boasts, of all things, a sports bar complete with liquor license and I have always promised myself to stop after swimming and enjoy a meal and a glass of wine. This Friday the Bar featured a jazz combo and I decided to go. I did not go home and put on glad rags. No! I went with my casual sporty outfit, paid my entrance fee and ordered a curry dinner and a half litre of Shiraz- I was hungry and thirsty- then I sat back to enjoy myself for the next three hours. So there I was sitting at a table by myself, thank goodness ,with my half litre of red and as I lounged back in my chair at the table surrounded by three empty chairs, enjoying the buzz of wine and jazz and aloneness -no personalities to deal with-no conversations to listen to- I found myself again. "This is Laurie" I said "Me -alone with half litre of wine and jazz -this is who I am! At last I have my groove back!" Why have I denied myself this experience? I have wanted for years to listen to jazz in a jazz club and I suppose I was waiting for someone to accompany me. No more - I am planning to branch out to experience more of jazz and life and I advise you to do the same,for as we all know, life is short and it is our duty to make it as broad as we can.