“How is it that you never married?”  If I had a nickel for every time I was asked that question…well, I wouldn’t be rich, but my pockets would be heavy.  For a time, I felt the question was catching me “off guard” and therefore I had to make an effort to be ready and “on guard” for it.  I would feel defensive, like I had strayed outside the lines so of course I would occasionally be required to explain the anomaly.  I came up with a breezy, packaged response that ‘tested’ well: