Forget Saying Farewell Just Ghost

I recently came across an article on Slate that introduced me to a term that my husband and I are familiar with practicing and had to share it: ghosting.

What is "ghosting", you ask? It's when you're attending a party, wedding or some other social event and you're finally ready to leave, so you slip out the door inconspicuously without saying your farewells to the hosts and other guests. You're there, then you're gone, in the manner of a ghost. My friends may ask, "Hey, where'd Loren go?" But, chances are, they didn't even notice, which means my incognito escape was successful!

I have many methods of achieving the ghost exit. I could glance over to my husband with the "let's leave" eyes, which he's become accustomed to recognizing. We'll then slip out of the door quietly. I've gone to the bathroom before and sent him a text letting him know that it's time to leave, and the next thing you know, we're ghosting.

Part of me feels guilty because sometimes I think it's kind of rude, but a lot of times it's just awkward to make the rounds saying 'bye' to every single person.  Plus, I think it could almost be more rude to interrupt whatever activity they're partaking to say goodbye. Leaving quietly and maybe shooting a text later saying "thank you for having me" can be more appropriate in a lot of circumstances.

The article concludes there is no fun way to say your goodbyes, which is another reason why ghosting can be justified. On one hand, the person who's tired and really wants to end their night (usually me) doesn't have the energy to impede on everyone else's conversations to announce their departure. On the other hand, there's the party animals, the night owls, who don't want to be reminded with farewells that the night's fun will soon be closing out. So why remind them? Just ghost, people!