Dating involves being witty and charming and making reservations at fabulous restaurants. Marriage involves compromise... something that sounded to me like a combo of castor oil and settling.

The association between Christmas and punk rock started when I was 13, when my friends and I went to see a band play in the cafeteria of our high school. It was a punk rock band. A band called Shrapnel.

By 29, I'd gone on dozens of first dates and had handfuls of yearlong relationships. I thought I was practicing for marriage. Today, I know dating and marriage involve entirely different skill sets.

By 29, I'd gone on dozens of first dates and had handfuls of yearlong relationships. I thought I was practicing for marriage. Today, I know dating and marriage involve entirely different skill sets.