I had been dreading the sex question since Michael scheduled our meeting with our wedding officiant, Father Ted. March 2 seemed to come up out of nowhere. Before I knew it, Michael and I were sitting in Father Ted’s office and he was asking Michael to leave the room so he could ask me a few questions.

I watched helplessly as Michael stood and walked to the door. My stomach started to do flips as I heard the click of the door latch.

I imagined Father Ted would ask me several innocuous questions to lull me into a false sense of security and then, BAM, he would lay it right out there.

Except, I was sure he wouldn’t just say ‘sex.’

Rather, I was confident he would employ verbiage only a person who has never had sex would. His question would be worded something like, “Have you and Michael engaged in pre-marital relations, intercourse, copulation, fornication or something really awkward like that.”

And then, I, queen of inappropriate conversation and behavior in general, would say something like, “Yeah, in fact our favorite sexual aid used to be a microfridge in my dorm room.

We really miss it now that we live together in an apartment. But, we hope to get one as a wedding gift. By the way, have you checked out our registry?

And, all hell would break loose.

Seriously, though, I am not ashamed of having had premarital sex. And, apparently, I am among a majority opinion in the United States. According to a recent Gallup poll, 60 percent of Americans say they believe premarital sex is acceptable.

Sexual compatibility is as important as any other form of compatibility.

Sex is the way a couple physically expresses their love for one another.

And, it all boils down to chemistry. A couple’s sex life should have an electric chemistry because it is one of the few things a couple shares with no one else.

(Unless you are Michael and me, in which case our sex life is splashed all over this column.)

A couple should feel exhilarated by the special ‘play time’ they share together. The alternative is a lifetime of going through the motions.

Premarital sex is the only way to truly determine compatibility. Even the best of marriages will falter under mismatched sexual styles and drives.

Surprise! Father Ted never even approached the question of sex.

For my entire time spent imagining one scenario after another, I never even had to answer the question.

The most threatening question he asked was about how often we went to church. I told the truth: occasionally.

Now, I just have to cross my fingers that Father Ted doesn’t own a computer. . .