Family reunions: where you know only a handful of the people in the room and you eat enough food to put Thanksgiving lunch to shame. Well, at least that's how it usually happens with me. Don't get me wrong, I love my family, but if there's one thing I've learned growing up is that we have more family reunions than the average person. By the time one it's over, I feel like another is right on the horizon. Each and every one of them is exactly the same. I know about fifteen or twenty of the people in a room of fifty, I make small talk with people I've probably met ten times before but never remember, and I eat food made by people I don't know.
Another thing each of these reunions has in common are the awkward questions I'm inevitably asked. They're innocent-enough questions, but when you get asked the same question a million times it kind of gets redundant.
1. Do you know Aunt [insert name here]?
No, I don't remember Uncle Tom or Aunt Edna or any of the other people you've asked me about. I didn't realize coming meant I was going to have a 'who's who' pop quiz.
2. Where do you go to school?
While I don't mind answering this one I always seem to get a mix of emotions when I say I go to UNC-Chapel Hill. Either people gush about how amazing of a university it is (yes I know, I do go there ya know?) or they all immediately start discussing our athletes and their "lack" of classroom attendance (this is another rant for another time).
3. Are you out of school yet?
Yes, I'm home for the summer. Classes were great. Yes, I miss it. I move back in, in August.
4. What are you studying?
You know I'm still trying to answer this one myself so for now, I'm just going to tell you what my declared major is and just add in the disclaimer that I'm really not sure where life is leading me yet. Of course, that always gives people the chance to ask what I plan to do after graduation (again, I'm really not sure but don't have a good enough answer so I'll stick with I don't know).
5. Are you dating anyone yet?
Thank you for reminding me that I've been single for nineteen years. No, I am not dating anyone at the moment and I'm perfectly content with being single. Ask again next time, maybe by then, I'll be able to give you a little more interesting answer.
6. Don't you remember cousin {insert name here}?
No, I actually don't remember a person that I met for five minutes, five years ago. I know I'm related to them, but I'm related to a lot of people, hence the reunion. I can't actually be expected to remember ALL of them.
