The Green Flash

    Over 120 years ago, Jules Verne wrote of a phenomena called the Green Ray or Green Flash.  As the sun sets, just before it dips below the horizon, the last 

burning sliver appears to explode into green fire.  It is a rare occurrence and according to Mount Wilson Observatory, only happens when visibility is good, several miles from the curvature of the planet, usually over the ocean and when your “line of sight is parallel to the horizon.”  Many have sailed the Seven Seas, toasted the end of a day in Key West, and stared at ocean sunsets hoping to observe this rarity.  Few do.

   Finding compatibility with a man is a lot like the conditions for the elusive Green Flash.  A whole lot needs to happen and it just doesn’t come together very often.

   Take eating together:   Do the two of you eat in or out? What kind of food?  If you go out, where do you both want to go?  Do you both drink? Who’s the designated driver?  Is one of you on the wagon and the other want to leave because there is no alcohol served?  Do you share a meal?  Do you eat off each other’s plates?  Who pays?  Do you share the bill?  Is he appropriate with the server?  Are you appropriate with the server!?  What kind of tip do you leave?  If you stay in, whose kitchen?  Do you cook together or does one of you sit and watch the other do culinary magic?  What do you cook?  Healthy or not healthy?  Is one of you watching the salt or sugar or fat or whatever intake?  Do you have the right equipment?  Who gets the groceries?  Is one of you telling the other what to do?  Who cleans up?  Do you need to re-clean?  Was it fun?  Would you rather be eating cold pizza watching a rerun of The Bachelor???

   And that is only one meal… 

   Try planning for a vacation:   Where do you go? Domestic or International?  Sail, rail, drive, or fly? City or country?  Camping or luxury spa?  Is he a big golfer? Are you a big golfer?  Are you cool with golf taking over the vacation?  Is he a sailor?  Is he a pirate at heart with a rope in his teeth challenging the elements and do you get seasick?    Are you a peak bagging hiker anxious for the next death march and is he whining due to an old football injury?  Perhaps he’s hitting Vegas and getting everything comped.  Or is he sitting on the beach with an umbrella drink giving you his take on the big game?  On road trips, who does the driving?  Is he that guy who stops and gives you 5 minutes to go to the bathroom?  Or is he a long rider trying to break records?  Does he have road rage?  Or is he making sure everyone behind him is doing the speed limit?
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   And that’s only eating and planning a vacation.   You haven’t even touched open windows at night, exercising, bedtime, money, toilet paper rolls, family, friends, house temperature, holiday traditions, religion, arrest records, or politics. 

   In comparison to finding a partner, seeing the Green Flash seems downright common.