SPARE TIRE

Third-wheel, fifth-wheel, heck… I’ve been the eleventh-wheel. Right? Me hanging out with only five couples has been a thing before.

I used to hate it, I’d get super embarrassed and start to feel super lonely. Once when I was seventh-wheeling at a wedding, I had an empty seat next to me and I would just continuously joke about how my date was late, and later I ended up dancing with my beer.

Back in high school I worked at a milk stand at the Minnesota State Fair with my brother, his girlfriend, my cousin, and his girlfriend. After, while still in our matching light blue shirts and tan hats, we decided to hit up an arcade. Then this cool thing happened where they all went off separately to be those annoying high school couples. While I was waiting for us to all meet up again, I got mistaken for an arcade worker. Twice.

One time at a breakfast diner while I was fifth-wheeling, the waitress was getting ready to split the bill and said, “You’re together, you’re together, and you’re alone?” Yep, that’s me.

Take it back to Florida, when my friend’s parents were leading the pack, holding hands, enjoying the scenery; my friend and her boo right behind them, holding hands, giggling away into the sunset; then me, trailing behind, getting a full view of everything I don’t have. They also had couple caricatures done, super cute so I wanted in on the fun. My picture is of me holding a Bud Light.

One of the hardest parts is seeing my friends go on cute dates or cute outings. When I say how I wish I could have someone to do those things with, I get “I’ll be your date!” But, I want my OWN date, you already get spoiled.

The best part is learning valuable relationship advice and tactics to store away. It’s also fun knowing what they got each other for presents and being the middle man for whom they come to for advice (sometimes you’re stuck in the middle, though, and that is the worst, especially when it’s a fight).

I have found that, as I get older, it is more enjoyable going out with all of my coupled friends because I now get along with both sides of the couple. Gossiping? I’ll chat with the girls. Checking out the waitress? I’ll hang with the guys. We also tend to go out more in larger groups, which allows for more mingling and I don’t really have time to dwell on the fact that I’m single.

Don’t get me wrong, I would love someone to share my time with, but don’t take this to mean I am unhappy with being alone or that I am sad, because being single has its perks <3