There are many questions that one needs to ask a significant other before making the Big Commitment. We all know the standard ones:
- Does s/he want kids?
- How does s/he handle finances?
- Does s/he have The Herp? (while that might not be a dealbreaker for some...um...more dedicated types, it is certainly a relationship ender for me)
- Can I tolerate (at least in small doses) the in-laws?
But perhaps the most important test of compatibility this time of year is the following:
REAL or ARTIFICIAL?
I'm talking about the tree.
Some people truly don't care what their Christmas tree is. (In my experience, they are usually either Jehovah's Witnesses or Jews) But I find that many, many people feel very strongly about which type of Christmas tree should be displayed.
Personally, I think it is really wasteful to keep a real tree for (maybe) three weeks, just to toss it out. The smell makes me sneeze, and I have an irrational fear of it catching on fire.
Looking back on previous relationships, I can remember how insistent that each were that one day we would have a live Christmas tree. I should have cut my losses then and there and dumped the losers. If you can't agree (or at least compromise) on what kind of tree to purchase, the relationship is doomed to fail. Why doesn't Oprah ever talk about the all-important Christmas tree compatibility test??
(and for those of you wondering.... yes, N.A. is a steadfast supporter of artificial trees).
