Pastor’s toddler was at the table, too. When I was wasn’t looking at the music videos, I spent time playing with the kid by imitating his movements. The kid likes to clap and point, and he’s learning how to snap his fingers. But the kid has a short attention span, so that didn’t last long.

There was no acknowledgement that I and Navy Guy weren’t participating in the conversation. That is so typical of parents who get so caught up in their childed world that they don’t notice anything else. Even when in a one-on-one situation with a lot of them, it’s hard to keep them from drifting back to kid subjects. For example, I have experienced a lot of blank looks from moms when I talk about anything that is going on in the world outside of their kids. It’s like they can’t relate to the outside world anymore. I used to do the polite thing and ask a lot of questions about the kids when I saw they wanted to discuss nothing else. I don’t do that anymore. Either I keep changing the subject, or I just make a point not to hang around them for long periods of time.

Fortunately, I only live a few blocks from the restaurant, so I could walk home afterwards. I was spared further conversation about everything about babies. The expectant wife — Young Custodian’s wife — was talking about having Pastor’s wife come along to help her pick things out on the baby registry. I was spared having to continue another kid conversation in the car.

I still may not go for the reasons I had for not going when it was on my birthday. Not all staff was invited, first of all. The staff consists of myself, Pastor, Young Custodian and Church Organist. Pastor doesn’t consider Church Organist a staff person because he’s not there every day. Uh, he’s getting paid for his services, and he is there at least twice a week (for Sunday service and to practice once a week). Church Organist is not the most sociable person in the world, but the man might be offended if he wasn’t asked to attend the party. It was bad enough when Pastor and I forgot to extend invites to volunteers one year for a volunteer/staff Christmas party. We caught hell for that from some. I’d rather not go through the same thing with Church Organist.

I find Church Organist’s omission odd, when Pastor and Young Custodian have decided to invite a couple of church interns. They’re not technically staff, in my opinion. Their inclusion in the party brings up another situation: there will be three married couples there (the interns are married to each other). Young Custodian and his wife are expecting a child. Pastor and his wife have a kid. The interns don’t have kids, but I know they probably want some, as they are of the same conservative Christian mindset as the other two couples.

A conversation about children and child-rearing is sure to come up. I don’t bother to hide my boredom when those topics come up anymore. My silence is a sure sign that I have no interest in that conversation, and Pastor has noted that before. It won’t stop him and the others from droning on about that, as well as the joys of being married. I still believe that when Pastor talks about married bliss around me and other singles it’s partially bragging and partially him trying to convince everybody else that marriage is the only way to go. He’ll claim that’s not the case, but that is not what it sounds like to most ears.

Politics will be a big subject, too, as both Young Custodian and Pastor never learned that is one subject that should not be brought up in mixed company. Their conservative leanings clash with my liberal/middle-of-the-road thoughts. The both of them don’t get that everybody does not agree the same way they do on issues. I’d rather not have to go there and shut them up, especially at a party.

A new boxing gym is having a grand opening that night. That is looking way more interesting than that party.