DEAR ABBY: I'm a 44-year-old man who has never married. Because of this, some of my family and friends think I'm gay. They never have asked me outright, but they occasionally allude to it as a "joke." How can I let them know that I'm not gay and put to rest their way of thinking? -- STRAIGHT IN SAN ANTONIO
DEAR STRAIGHT: The next time someone makes a joke about your sexual orientation, look the person in the eye and say, "That's funny. But, you know, I'm not gay -- just happy being single." It's the truth, and you're not alone. Many straight people of both sexes have never made it to the altar and plan to keep it that way.