So there I was, at the annual family reunion, otherwise known as the ‘Feast of a Thousand Questions.’ As soon as I stepped foot into the bustling house filled with the aroma of Aunt Sue’s famous apple pie, I knew I was stepping into the interrogation room.

The scene was set – an army of aunts and uncles, an artillery of cousins, a battalion of siblings, all having just one question: “Do you have a boyfriend yet?”

Now, there are a few things I dread more than the family reunion relationship status review. But this, dear readers, is a bullet that one must bite. Armed with nothing more than my quick wit and a practiced smile, I took a deep breath and walked into the fray.

The barrage began over Aunt Sue’s apple pie and didn’t stop until we were saying our goodbyes. From Uncle Joe’s classic, “Isn’t it about time you found a nice young man?” to Grandma’s innocent, “I do hope you find someone who likes my homemade cookies as much as you do,” the questions were as relentless as they were well-intentioned.

Now, why don’t I have a boyfriend? It’s a question I’ve often asked myself. The simple answer is, I just haven’t found the right guy. The long answer? Well, that involves discussions about the complexities of modern dating, the importance of independence, and a long tangent about why these male leads in movies and dramas are setting unrealistic standards for men.

But how does one explain this to a family who views singledom as a malady rather than a choice? With humor and a lot of patience.

Cousin Larry asked, “No boyfriend yet?” I replied, “Not since I last checked my purse, Larry. Maybe I left him in my other coat?” When Grandma asked about the cookie-loving guy, I told her, “I’m still sifting through the applicants, Grandma. The cookie compatibility section is really tripping them up.”

You see, the key is to stay light-hearted, maintain a sense of humor, and remember that their questions are rooted in love and concern, even if they are as annoying as a pop song you can’t get out of your head.

As the day ended, I left the reunion, armed with leftover apple pie and a string of memorable quotes for my next book, tentatively titled “Surviving the Family Inquisition: A Single Girl’s Guide.”

And so, dear readers, I remain your chronically single, apple pie-loving protagonist, weaving through the world of family, love, and plenty of unwarranted advice. And who knows, maybe by the next family reunion, I’ll be bringing a guy who has passed the rigorous cookie compatibility test. Or maybe, just maybe, I’ll be happily sharing another slice of singledom and apple pie.