I'm sorry, Dave. It is difficult to have no one in your life - I know.
Outside of work, there is home - nothing else. No socializing, no nothing for me.
I think that these people owed you the courtesy of letting you know about this get-to-gether and give you the choice of arriving or not. I wish they would clear things up and treat you the way you should be treated.
<font color=red>Don't you just hate it when life doesn't follow the manuals? - Author Unknown</font color=red>