Why is this strange?

This past weekend somebody asked me why I am still single. We were chilling at the most recent Genge party, bobbing our heads to Jua Kali's "Kiasiiiiii" and having a jolly good time. This young man whom I have known for a while now was asking many personal questions and wanting to know intimate details about me. Now, I have no issues talking to this my friend about myself, but I wanted to know where the conversation was going. I figured, if I knew the destination, then I could decide whether or not I wanted to take the journey. He finally told me that he was curious to know why a nice mama with her head screwed on tight had remained single for so long.

This is a tough question to answer. For many reasons. Some of my answers would definately result in me being accused of being a male basher, which contrary to what a lot of people think, I am not. Most of the reasons, however, are simple and straight forward. Reasons like the fact that I am yet to find that person who makes it all come together, so to speak. Or my preference for men who call Zamunda home. That one presents a real challenge. The options, outside of Zamunda, are limited and and quite frankly, the ones I know of are damaged goods. That's another storo altogether.

My soundest reason, however, has to do with a question I constantly ask myself when presented with a potential mate. "Would I leave this chap alone with my father?" All of my options right now fall under the NO category, with regards to this question, not that other issue I was on about earlier. As a result I have decided I will not bother. There is no need to waste anybody's time. Least of all my own. My dear friend was particularly interested in this reason. First he wanted to know if I would leave him alone with my father. Response, "No switi, not with that hair and especially not with your pants falling off your ass". He thought that was funny. Good, but I was being serious. So then he wanted to know why my father would come up in my choice of potencial mates. Ati, "kwani you're looking for a husband?" At this point the DJ shocked us with Bad Boy by Amani and I run off to join my pals on the dance floor. That discussion died. Until we meet again.

Here is my question. Is it strange that I think the way I do? I cannot begin to tell you just how much I value the opinion of my people when it comes to choice of mates. I have seen my mother call out a girlfriend that my dear brother thought was 'the one' with such precision. I suspect he shall forever be indebted to dear mama for that one. Ms Thing turned out to be quite the specimen. A cousin of mine ignored the pleas of the men in the family to put off marrying her chap for a little longer. They claimed something was up with him, they just couldn't put their finger on it. She showed up on her father's doorstep not long after the wedding looking like she had been used for target practice.

This is why I ask myself that question. See, if the answer is no, it means I can already think of reasons why I should not be with the young man in question. So then again I ask, why bother? If the answer is yes, then I know that according to my own vetting process, this young man is a good one. He can now meet my father who will tell me if he agrees. Surely this is reasonable.