How do you know when it’s true love?

Sometime between Valentine’s Day and spring weddings, every single gal on the planet finds herself asking that all-important, suspense-filled question.

The answer is simple. It’s the “wow” factor.

Of course, men and women are wowed by different things.

We’ve all seen the gorgeous, supermodel girl with the short, bespectacled guy. Men never understand how that happens but, of course, women get it.

“It’s 30 percent looks plus 30 percent personality plus 30 percent intellect plus 10 percent bonus stuff,” says one very wise gal I know, explaining it like a math formula.

Bonus stuff is nonessential, but fun extras like bilingual, athletic, rich, ambitious, musical; you get the idea.

If a guy plays the guitar, that’s an unfair advantage because no woman on the planet can resist a strummy love song.

I may be wrong, but I think the guys’ formula is straight up: 100 percent looks.

That’s probably why men think we are complicated. Ladies, our equation involves addition.

Men-in-love are a fascinating species, especially East Texas men. Trained to hunt from the time they are tots, our young fellows study up on their intended with dedication and devotion that borders stalking.

That, too, seems unfair because we all know that no young woman on the planet can resist the attention of a cute guy.

Gals, if a guy is not intense about you, or if you are doing too much work to keep his interest, he is not your Mr. Right.

I say dump him immediately because he’s just standing between you and The One.

Plus, single gals have more fun and freedom without a half-hearted suitor driving ‘em crazy.

And I respectfully suggest that he’s got better things to do than waste his time with you.

All this presupposes faith because fear is no way to build a relationship.

Personally, since I don’t do math, I have a rightbrain theory. It involves a little science.

“Trust the Chemistry of the Universe.”

According to this theory of science and the laws of attraction, since the Designer of the Universe is Good, somehow, when we meet “the one,” our strengths will gel.

Our weaknesses will serve to help us mature. Eventually. With a lot of prayer, probably.

There will even be fireworks — hopefully, mostly the good kind.

Some women will argue my theory about chemistry because they seem to be magnets for every naughty boy within 100 miles.

For those ladies, I have an amended hypothesis: “Trust the Chemistry, but don’t check your brain at the door!”

And try to enjoy the suspense.

Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Visit checklistcharlie.blogspot. com.