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I never dreamed I'd find myself in romantic settings in Las Vegas when I was there for a ministry meeting this past weekend. Instead I'd anticipated kitsch, all manner of tackiness, hung over brides and hopefully a few Elvis impersonators. The kind of stuff that inspired the phrase "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas."

But despite my dubious expectations, standing there in front of the Bellagio hotel's famed fountains, with the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triumph in the background (faux though they were), watching the choreographed waterworks to one of my favorite songs—"Time to Say Goodbye" by the dreamy duet of Andrea Bocceli and Sarah Brightman—I couldn't deny the romance of it all. The snuggling couples all around me certainly felt it too.

And later, down the street at The Venetian, I thoroughly enjoyed strolling the cobblestone streets of the hotel's mini-piazza while the gondoliers serenaded the couples gliding along the canal that ran throughout the building's shopping district. The ceilings were all painted to look like sky, and one area in particular created a twilight feel that was altogether romantic. The various brides and grooms, all be-gowned and be-tuxed, strolling along this little manufactured piece of Italy certainly helped the overall effect.

And who was I there with to enjoy all these dreamy settings? Four fellow single women!

Now, if you think I'm seeking sympathy for this, you're wrong. What was best of all during this wacky little weekend trip was that I was able to enjoy these surprise moments of romance even without a beau—let alone a tuxedoed groom.

There's a word for this phenomenon: rotic. A romantic setting/activity without the man. (I wonder what the male equivalent for this is?) While the term makes me roll my eyes a bit, I like what the term suggests: that romance doesn't necessarily require a romantic partner.

I love that we singles can appreciate a beautiful sunset simply for its God-painted beauty. That we can listen to a dreamy song in our solo homes and enjoy the lovely words or melody. That we can buy a bouquet of roses for ourselves and savor the color and fragrance of the blooms.

I'm of the mind that God created us to appreciate beauty, and I imagine that he smiles when we take joy in it whenever he chooses to put it in our path—no matter who we're with.

I've also learned that being able to appreciate a moment of romance or joy no matter what's going on around us is a handy skill to have in life.

Standing there watching the water display, I could tell that a couple of the women with me simply felt damp (from the slight drizzle) instead of dreamy. And when I burst into spontaneous applause at the end of the song, forgetting for a moment that I was basically communicating "Way to go electronically controlled water spouts!" I realized that a few people in our party were already making a break for the nearest hotel so they could warm up.

But then other times, not having a significant other with you to appreciate a special moment isn't such a bad thing. Meandering the piazza shopping area with one of the women in our group, I heard three little words that are a whisper-close second to "I love you"—"I need chocolate." At her pronouncement, this new friend and I strolled over to the nearby Godiva store and took our time selecting just the right two truffles each for a little late-night indulgence.

Such moments make me think of a friend who years ago announced that she wasn't going to darken the gates of a certain romantic outdoor theater until she was taken there by a date. What a world of fun and beauty she's no doubt missed out on because of her inability or unwillingness to live in—and love—the moment, to be content whatever the circumstances (Philippians 4:11).

At the end of the evening, full of good food, fun window shopping, and great girl-bonding, we climbed back into our car for the trek to our lodging on the outskirts of town. But before we turned off the infamous Strip, another of the intermittent water shows started up in front of the Bellagio. This time, the song was "One" from A Chorus Line. As I hummed the words in my head—"One, a singular sensation …"—I savored one more private moment of joy as I smiled and thought, How appropriate!

Camerin welcomes your feedback and brainstorms at: SinglesNewsletter@ChristianityToday.com

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