| The admen and the marketing mavens have created | | | | paper with a personal message. Send flowers, the |
| a cultural expectation around special occasions and | | | | more the better, to your partner's work site. They |
| calendar events. We are inundated with sales pitches | | | | don't have to be the expensive de-rigeur |
| for Christmas, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, | | | | long-stemmed roses. Six tubs of fresh daisies or |
| New Year, Halloween, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, | | | | daffodils will do the trick. When you order them, |
| Father's Day, and any other day they can find that | | | | expect the standard refrain of "What's the occasion." |
| will make us feel that we absolutely have to buy a | | | | Put on the card, "This is 'An every day with you is |
| gift to express our sentiments. | | | | wonderful' celebration." |
| Dates on the calendar are merely days like any other | | | | Blow up a bunch of cheap balloons, write a few |
| days. Our relationships are 365 days a year and | | | | happy words on them, and fill up your partner's car |
| something this good deserves a celebration at any | | | | or bathtub or shower with them. |
| time and at any place. Spontaneous, unexpected | | | | Send a small gift in the mail or send a funny e-card. If |
| "special" occasions can remind us of the importance | | | | you know your partner's coworkers, give them a |
| of each and every day in our lives together. | | | | present to put on the computer keyboard as a |
| Just pick a day at random, occasionally, and make it | | | | pleasant surprise after a grueling meeting. |
| memorable. If others ask about what is so special, | | | | Wrap yourself up in something slinky, tie on a bow, |
| just smile and turn away - they'll speculate for hours | | | | and greet your partner at the door with a box of |
| about what you might be celebrating. | | | | chocolates or a favorite drink. |
| Give your partner a special gift - wrapped in pretty | | | | |