“Ya gotta be comfortable with yourself alone before you’re comfortable dining or going to the movies alone.”

I’m paraphrasing, but those were the wise old observations of Carrie, aka Sally Jessica Parker, on a recent episode of “Sex and the City.” She was commenting on flying “solo.”

Now, I’m a little embarrassed to admit I watch the show, but when you’ve overdosed on 24-hour cable news, and Paula Deen starts using a fake Southern accent (like she needed one), it’s time to explore new territory.

Since I retired and lost my husband, I made a promise to myself that I would try one new activity each month. That’s something I’ve never done before, no matter how trivial. I’m trying to inoculate myself against becoming too predictable and too stodgy.

Things like eating solo at a restaurant or going to a movie alone have always scared me to death. Like a wolf, I tend to travel in a “pack” – just like Carrie and her gang Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte. Since the month is almost half over and I haven’t performed my new activity yet, I decided I would go to a movie alone. That would be my new activity for July.

“Sex and the City” is on the Big Screen now and I really want to see it, but I want to concentrate on the dialog and not be distracted by some man who groans during all the cute scenes. I was going in, and I was going in alone. Big move for me.

I dressed in my Ole Miss sweat shirt and a baseball hat from the New York Yankees. I knew no one would have anything to do with me in this town of Mississippi State Bulldogs who hate Ole Miss with a vengeance.

Bravely, I drove to the theatre for the 2:15 matinee. I was feeling pretty frisky and considering buying a box of Sugar Babies. (Do they still make those?) I turned into the theatre and was shocked. There wasn’t a single car in the parking lot. I ran up to the ticket office and there was a sign announcing that they were closed. No matinee.

Well shucks. Does it count that I went prepared to attend a movie alone? It better because I’m calling my “pack” to come go with me tomorrow night.