Single and Sexy with Renee Rayles

The funny thing is that when it’s time to leave, the fun always seems to start. For example, we went to a tapas restaurant that advertises a salsa band that plays on Friday nights. We both manage to find great sitters, we’re dressed and ready for a great time. After dinner we both comment on how the band hasn’t begun to play yet. We ask our server when will the band start to play? He tells us they begin at 11 p.m – and wouldn’t you know it that’s when we have to be out the door and in the car on the way home?

It’s a curfew that we as moms are often on, but the irony seems to be that when everything gets started is when we have to get “started” getting home.

Case in point……
I had just been recognized by Jezebel Magazine, a local Atlanta Magazine, as one of the “Ten Most Beautiful Atlantans.” Lucky for me, they graded on a curve.

You also had to be do-gooder or someone who volunteered or donated to causes to be selected. After getting over the initial shock of being noticed, I was notified there would be a party in celebration of the honor. Five of the Atlantans were celebrities and the other five were regular locals. Finding out that I would hopefully be mixing and mingling with celebrities as well as hearing that Grammy award winning Ne-Yo would be performing was exciting.

My single mom friend and I bought new dresses and found sitters that could stay later as we fully expected a late night. Getting to the party was terrific. We walked the red carpet and got our photos taken.

Inside the party was fabulous food. My friend and I decided that a glass of wine sounded good and then noticed the sushi.

Somehow I thought I could juggle the wine, sushi, chopsticks and soy sauce. Wrong-O!

I couldn’t manage all three and before I knew it of all things to spill on me it was of course the soy sauce. Not just fall but make a nice long trail from the top of my dress to the bottom of my dress. So I am in my brand new dress covered in soy sauce. I figured that since I was wearing a purple dress and it was dark no one can notice, right? But after the first performer they decided to turn on ALL OF THE LIGHTS!

So, I am standing there while my photo is flashing across a large screen as being one of the 10 and hoping no one notices the soy sauce.

The master of ceremonies comes to one of the stages and announces that Ne-Yo will be performing shortly. I notice that the mc is none other than the disc jockey from one of the biggest radio stations in town and his show is syndicated in many cities. He always has hilarious and funny stories. My single mom friend and I had an idea for the show and decided that this would be a wonderful time to pitch the idea to him. When would we ever have such great access to him? We walk over and speak to him and please remember I am coated in soy sauce with the ugly lights on.

I pitch him our idea and I don’t know if he was just saying sure, sure it sounds interesting because he thinks I am a crazy lady or he really was interested in the idea. Either way, I haven’t heard back from him.

It’s 10 p.m. and the party is over. People are clearing out but my friend and I think this is the night we are going to party like rock stars. We have our new dresses on and it’s only 10 p.m. and we aren’t on mom curfew. We drive around town and can’t find anything happening so we concede and give in, thinking everyone must know we are on mom curfew.

We both die laughing and chalk it up to another night as the two single moms that make the most of the few minutes or hours we get out. We didn’t meet any celebrities, but I met some soy sauce and I broke my usual mom curfew. It was a truly enjoyable night.