Living Single

Hi Dr. DePaulo and readers, Happy 2012!
Here is a ‘cherry note’ from my own files about a single senior citizen here in Arkansas who loves her lifestyle. Finally, I got to meet her last year.
Lyle ringing bell since ’18 for freedom
In Benton, Arkansas, Miss Florrie Lyle, 98 years old and spry, came to Veterans day celebrations this year to ring her bell. It isn’t just any bell. It is a bell her mother gave her to ring in celebration of the end of the war. The Great War. As in, the end of World War I. Her ringing marked the highlight of ceremonies held under sunny skies at the Saline County courthouse square Nov. 11, 2011. Aside from the program, most of the people wanted to hear Miss Lyle ring that bell. I was 4 years old when the war ended, Miss Lyle said. Her mother got word that the armistice had been signed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Miss Lyle recalled there was a bit of uncertainty at that time. Miss Lyle said her mother gave her a school bell and told her to run through the house and ring…that…bell. She said she remembers running through their house on West Vine Street in Searcy at that time and boy did she ring that bell. And she has rung that bell many times since. You see, Miss Lyle has rung that bell many times since and is in regular demand each year at Veterans day ceremonies in this river city. No Veterans day service is complete without Miss Lyle ringing that bell. Yes, for the record, it is the same bell she rang as a 4 year old girl. As a retired teacher of many years in Arkansas, many of her former students keep in touch or, as happened on Nov. 11, 2011, came up to greet her.
Single, childfree and over 60 years myself, loving my lifestyle, living small in rural Arkansas

Excellent opening Dr. DePaulo –‘Decades from now, someone will write a definitive history of the rise of single people in American society and around the world.” Just down right excellent. I look forward to continue reading your posts in 2012 and beyond from my tiny home,(where I keep my locally made pine box)in rural Arkansas.
By choice living solo, barefootin’, living clutter free, childfree, drinking spring water, and car free with no regrets. Spending lots of my time outside in nature and in silence.