Yes. You. It just might happen that you meet someone you can't get out of your mind, a wonderful one with chemistry that zigs in perfect sync with yours. The mere thought of them makes you smile from the heart. In other words, for the very first time, you're floored. And time only deepens the conviction that this relationship may be IT.

And yet … there are those small morning hours that rumble you out of sleep with questions. Lots of them. Big ones, too. Those pinpricks keep you wondering if this is the close encounter of your life, if this is person is the mate for your soul. Hey, this is a life-changing decision, and you're entitled to self-inquiry — as much as you need. Try asking your pillow these gems:

— Is this person in my corner, on my side, an ally? Are they FOR me?

— Do they make my life easier, more fun, more interesting?

— Do they add something to my life? Do we as a couple add up to more than two individuals? (It's that old synergy thing.)

— Does this person have my welfare/benefit/interest in mind?

— Do I like them? Do I like their values, their view of the world, the way they treat people, their priorities?

— Can I trust this person? Do others trust them?

— Is this person grounded, solid, down-to-earth, realistic?

— Am I proud to be with them?

— Do we see the future the same way, with similar goals?

— How sure am I that this relationship will endure? How do I feel about living together for a few months to test our compatibility?

— Would I go for medicine if they got sick in the middle of the night?

— How will I feel when sex with this new partner loses its novelty? Will that be a disappointment or a deepening of my feelings?

— Am I quite sure this is the person I want as my life's companion?

Those questions don't come with a lifeline or studio response. Only you can wrestle them to the mat for answers that satisfy. Some of them might not apply right now, but that's fine. They're not meant to be one size fits all. This is pick-and-choose time. The mission of these queries is to jump-start the thinking process and channel it in directions that can make a difference to your life — perhaps a significant one. My hunch is that when you start thinking along these lines, something quite startling occurs: All of a sudden, their packaging doesn't matter nearly as much. Think about that before your next Saturday night.

AFTERTHOUGHT. Don't for one split second think this exercise is marriage-only! Its questions work for any relationship involving love and caring between adults. They're meant to tickle you into a mood of self-inquiry and to start a chain of queries about anything that pops into your head (and heart). In matters like these, it pays to inject a dose of reality/rationality into this thing we call Love and balance its high jinks with answers that spring from within.

Some experts warn that this quiet revolution of singleness will result in far fewer marriages and lead to anarchy and hedonism, pleasure-seeking by an irresponsible population. I AGREE. THERE WILL BE FEWER MARRIAGE CEREMONIES, BUT THERE WILL ALSO BE FAR HAPPIER MARRIAGES. Divorce attorneys will suffer from an empty-courtroom syndrome because the unions that do exist will be harmonious and (much) less likely to end. Say goodbye to the sad grandparents, the uprooted children, and the bitter divorced men and women who have had their dreams shattered. It may take a while to move into this scenario, but you can be sure it's coming. We have enough farcical marriages between enemies and confused children torn between parents. Let's opt for love partnerships. They've got my vote.

Write to Susan Deitz c/o this newspaper. She will answer all letters that come with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Or you may e-mail her at info@creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.