Everyday Romance

Romance doesn't have to mean sweeping declarations of love and expensive gifts... it can be an unexpected and loving gesture, or a delightful little gift that brings back wonderful memories.

Every month we'll choose one story from our visitors to share with our romance community. Do you have a story of your own to share? Please write to us!

             

Jim T. from Toronto, Ontario writes:

"My wife and I have been together a long time. When we were young, it was the man's job to romance the woman, and I dutifully did my duty. It paid off as I married the woman of my dreams, who is still my wife today. I still get my wife little gifts now and then to show her I love her.

Our grown daughter is always going on about how crazy it was to expect men to do all the romancing, and to expect women to do all the waiting. Apparently kids these days, of either sex, figure that if they are interested in someone then they will go and get them.

I didn't realize how closely my wife had been listening to our daughter. Ten days before my birthday, I got a little gift from my wife. It was completely unexpected and was a nice treat. Then the gifts continued, every day, right up until my birthday. She put a lot of thought into each gift. It was none of the typical gifts you might expect to get, but all had something to do with BBQ, food, or sailing, my favourite 3 things (next to my family). It was nice to be surprised. My wife had a giggle about how we're now a 'modern' couple that romances each other. "

             

Wendy W. from Toronto, Ontario writes:

"I just finished my third year in law school and was exhausted from the never-ending course load. My husband has been more than understanding, working full-time and taking care of all of the housework and family obligations. Our 'alone time' had vanished since we were both wiped out at the end of the day. Some days we only saw each other for a few rushed minutes.

Near the end of the semester, I was behind on my term project and felt overburdened. My teammates weren't doing their share of the work so I had to sacrifice family time and sleep to still get a good grade. Many days I thought I'd lose my mind from the stress of trying to do well in school and knowing that my husband wasn't getting enough time from me.

One day, as I was going through my course books, a note fell out of the pages. It was a note from my husband, supporting my decision to go to school and encouraging me, saying that he loved me. When I got home I hugged and kissed him, and we spent a few minutes making plans for a romantic getaway at the end of the term. Every day until school ended for the year, my husband would hide another little love note somewhere in my course materials. I don't know how he figured out what I'd be reading that day, but I always found a note waiting for me. I always knew my husband loves me, but this really made me FEEL loved, and reminded me that I wasn't just an overworked student. "

             

Lynn from Grand Falls, MT writes:

"My husband & I moved to a small town many years ago to raise our family. It's a safe place that seems to have been forgotten by the outside world. Nothing ever happens here, which is a good and bad thing I suppose.

One day I received in the mail a postcard of Miami Beach. On the back, it read "Thinking of you here". Nothing else. Without further thought, I tossed it in the recycling bin.

The following week another anonymous postcard arrived. A photo of Cape Canaveral again with writing that said, "Thinking of you here, too." Again, it ended up in the garbage.

Over the next few weeks, more postcards arrived, showing exotic Florida locations. I was angered because I thought it was pretty manipulative advertising, but at the same time I couldn't help but read each postcard and picture myself there.

And then a special delivery arrived. As I signed for it, the post lady handed me a thick envelope sent from my husband. Confused, I opened it to find brochures and plane tickets to Florida! I've always wanted to take a big trip but my husband and I just never seemed to get away. I guess he wasn't ignoring me all these years, just preparing to surprise me! "

             

Jane W. from Ontario writes:

"When I was a kid, my parents bought a cabin in northern Ontario on a lake and I fell in love with the remoteness & seclusion. Listening to the birdsongs as a morning sunrise lit up the lake was paradise to me.

I met my first love one summer at the lake when I was 21 years old. Ross was learning to sail with his parents and he waved to me as he passed our dock. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him staring at me until the boat sailed around the bend and out of sight.

I watched for weeks as his father taught him to maneuver the boat around the lake. We would wave to one another as they sailed past and I would continue to watch him out of the corner of my eye.

One afternoon, as his sailboat was zipping along the water, it changed direction and turned straight towards our place. Instead of waving to me, I heard him yell, "Hello there landlubber" and I watched as he landed the boat at our dock.

Four years later, we ended up getting married on that same dock and every summer since, we spend our time sailing and creating memories out on 'our' perfect lake."

             

Cathy B. from Hide A Heart writes:

"When I was first married, my idea of a 'love note' pretty much filled three to four notebook pages and included love poems, little 'lipstick' kisses on each page, pressed flowers, a candy kiss marking the beginning of the newest entry...you know, all the things 'girls' are thrilled about and guys, well at least my guy, seemed to be hard pressed to duplicate.

I thought I was giving him what he would like and not so subtly modeling what I wanted in return. What I received was VERY different. Who knew leaving a 'love note' would prove to be so tricky?

His 'love note' pretty much consisted of one to two sentences and did NOT include a 'lip stick' kiss... I knew it wouldn't... but I thought he might go through a kitchen cabinet and find the bag of candy kisses and leave one for me somewhere, like maybe on my pillow if he wanted to do something a little different from the way I was leaving the candy kiss.

I also thought he might write a love poem once in a while, but what I didn't appreciate was that I had him at a disadvantage when it came to poetry writing.

You see, I was a professional songwriter and poetry came rather easily to me and not so easily to him. I am also a performing artist and painter and decorator and gourmet cook.

I married a salesman who was a near-full time athlete, and thought air plane food, when air plane companies served food, actually tasted good because all he was looking for was something to "fill the tank" and it didn't much matter if the choice was between SPAM or Chicken Cordon Bleu... it was all the same thing to him.

Even today I tease him because he actually prefers 7-11 coffee, which I refer to as 'swill', so you can imagine the GAPING divide I am describing when it came to 'love notes'!

After about a year and several disappointing 'love note' postings by my husband, I abandoned the entire 'love note' idea and instead wrote and recorded 'love songs' for him, continued to create some fantastic gourmet meals just because I love good food and enjoy the process of cooking and serving a beautiful meal to friends.

Of course I can't make Jell-O but I'm pretty good at making grilled cheese sandwiches. My husband does notice there is a wide gap between 'gourmet meals' for friends and 'soup and sandwich' for us, but you know he trained me to forget the fancy and go directly to the basics when it came to serving him food, but we have never skipped letting one another know how much we love each other.

In fact, he's the one that discovered the way to leave a perfect 'love note'. He bought a little glass heart and hid it for me to discover... no words could ever say more."

             

Samantha G. from Ontario writes:

"My husband isn't the most romantic guy in the world but I know he tries. This year for Valentine's Day, he surprised me with an early present.

With all the lay-offs in our office, those of us who are left end up working longer hours than we should. I feel guilty for always having to work late since I know my husband misses the time we have together. I do my best to get home at a reasonable hour but one night we ran really late at the office, and I felt awful for coming home so late.

When I came in, the apartment was quiet and dark. I didn't know if my husband had gone out or gone to bed, or if he was upset. I tiptoed in and when I got around the corner, I saw my dear hubby waiting for me in the dining room, which was aglow in candlelight. There was a big beautiful bouquet of lilies (my favourite flower), and he had kept dinner (take-out from my favourite restaurant) warm in the oven. A small wrapped present sat next to my dinner plate.

It was all so perfect. My husband greeted me with a warm hug and a kiss and I was near tears. After a long day at work, I was worried he would be upset but instead he created a special evening just for us. I am so lucky to have such an understanding husband.

             

Jerry G. from Oregon writes:

"This recession has made my relationship with my wife a real challenge. Both of us bring home less pay but work longer hours. It seems like we only see each other in passing and we're always too tired to do anything together. We have tried many times to schedule a special evening together and it always fails since one or the other of us ends up calling at the last minute to cancel, due to work. Eventually we gave up trying to do anything as a couple. We both hated it but what could we do? We have to work to put food on the table.

Finally we both had nearly a week off during the holidays. I decided to surprise my wife with a romantic night out on the town and to make a bold proposal. After an evening of dinner & fireworks, I asked if she was willing to commit every evening just to us.

I didn't have to convince her of how ridiculous our jobs and our lives had become. We both agreed to try to be home every night by 6:00pm, and if absolutely necessary we would work late - but still be home by 8:00pm. Once we're both home, we just hang out together: we take turns cooking, watch our favorite TV shows or movies, and have even started taking an evening class together. No discussion of anything related to work!

It's been one week now and we've already had more fun in 2010 than we did all of last year. So far, so good!"

             

Paul P. from Ontario writes:

"I'm a romantic and my wife loves it. She loves being surprised, and she loves the spontaneity and the attention that I shower on her. She's an adventuress at heart so she's always eager to see where these surprises take us.

We've done the champagne in the hot-air balloon and the picnic in the park but I've never done the classic romantic evening. You know, the limo, the dinner, the elegant hotel. So last month I decided to put the 'cheese' back in with these cheesy manoeuvres to see how it would go over.

The day started out with a romantic message left on her make-up window. I told her to wear something nice to work because Friday was going to be a special day.

At 10:00 AM, a bouquet of flowers arrived at her desk with a note saying that she looked beautiful and to meet me downstairs after work. When the time arrived, the limousine pulled up with me inside. We sipped champagne as we inched through rush-hour traffic. The hectic world buzzed around us as we sat in comfort inside our little private bubble.

Soon we were let out at a romantic downtown restaurant. The setting was perfect for couples and intimate conversation. Great food, great wine, great views of the twinkling city lights, and great company. After dinner, we strolled the downtown sidewalks where I surprised her again by whisking her into a posh hotel for a romantic night together.

I have to admit, I didn't think things through as much as I should have. We left the hotel the next morning wearing the same nice evening clothes from the previous night. We grabbed a cab home and then smothered our laughter as we tried to sneak back into the house and avoid the curious stares of the neighbours. Great fun!"

             

Jenny B. from Vancouver, BC writes:

"I met my husband in the middle of a 10k race in 2004. I was new to the sport and on the day of the race, it was cold outside and I had trouble warming up properly. When the race pistol fired and I started running, I knew right away that my stride wasn't right but I didn't want to turn back.

Not long afterwards, my leg began to cramp. Stretching didn't help and a short distance later I felt crippled. My leg muscle seized into a tight, agonizing ball and I had to sit down. Just flexing my foot made pain shoot through my leg.

Other runners muttered encouragement as they sprinted past but no one stopped to help, until finally one man, a chubby fellow wearing a sweat-stained shirt, stopped. He told me he had cramped up in a race last year and was taught how to ease the pain. He offered to massage the muscle or teach me how to do it. Normally I wouldn't be comfortable with a stranger touching me, but under the circumstances I asked if he'd help me (while I gritted my teeth and tried to stay tough).

This stranger had a soothing touch and a calm and funny personality that helped to distract me from the pain in my leg. As the muscle finally loosened, I went from excruciating pain to embarassment, but his jokes helped to drive away the embarassment. We finished the race together with one of the slowest times.

Today, we are married. Dan has given up running races but I've gone on to challenge my fastest times. Knowing that he's waiting at the finish line always motivates me to never quit a race and to finish strong."

             

Chuck M. from Denver writes:

"My wife is a loving and caring woman. She's the type of person who brings homemade soup & bread to sick friends. She has always put a lot of thought into meals and into our dates to try to make all of them memorable. I, on the other hand, am uncomfortable with public displays of affection and would rather just have a quiet evening at home. Our friends have commented how different we are. Sometimes I wonder how my wife and I ever connected in the first place.

One day I gave in and decided to give this whole 'romantic gesture' thing a shot. I went out and rented a convertible and parked at the mall, where I knew my wife would be coming out after shopping. When I spotted her I honked the horn to get her attention, cruised up to her, and invited her to hop in. She gamely jumped in, excited about the adventure.

We drove around all afternoon. We took turns cruising past local landmarks and visiting places we hadn't been to in years. At dinner time, we spontaneously pulled up to the closest restaurant we could find. It turned out to be one of those "greasy-spoon" roadside diners, and dinner was fun. My wife was like a teenager again. I haven't seen her so flirty and happy in years. We ordered ice cream to go from a waitress who couldn't stop smiling at us.

I'm not converted into a romantic, but I didn't realize how happy these small gestures make my wife. I have been trying hard to do more things like this."

             

This "Mid-Week Romance" story comes
from Darlene G.:

"My husband and I used to be so romantic with each other. Over time we found ourselves spending our time doing housework and working overtime. It felt like we were drifting apart but we didn't know what to do - we have bills to pay, and we just have to get everything done.

Finally, enough was enough. Last month I found myself in tears, remembering how much we used to love being together. So it was time to try something different. This may sound dull and strange to some people, but we began to work romance into our everyday chores. It was my husband's idea and at first I just obliged him. Now I love it. We don't do anything spectacular, but we grocery shop together, cook dinner as a team, and work together in the yard. Complaining about work and chores are taboo. We talk more, we laugh more, we talk about our plans for the future. Instead of just waiting for the weekend to have some 'alone time', we have doubled the amount of 'fun time' together.

I know it doesn't seem like much but it has really helped our marriage. We feel much like we did as giddy twenty- somethings in love who could talk all night, only with a deeper, more mature understanding of each other."

             

This "Middle-Aged Hooky" story comes
from Dan B.:

"Things kept getting tougher at work for both me and my wife. The long hours and stressful days left us with no time (or energy) to do anything together, other than collapse in front of the TV every night after work.

Last month we decided enough was enough and we were going to go away for the weekend. We picked a place in the next town. It's not the most luxurious place but it fits our budget and gives us a chance to be together without work getting in the way.

The good news was that the hotel was having a "3rd night free" special. The bad news was that we were supposed to be back at the office. The thought of wasting that free night was almost more than we could bear - especially since we've both been spending an average of 60 or more hours at work every week!

While we were talking, my wife jokingly said, "Too bad we can't just skip work like we used to skip class." And we both looked at each other. Why not? We have worked tons of unpaid overtime, uncomplainingly (OK, a little complaining), in order to keep our jobs in this economy (we are supposed to get time in lieu, but no one can ever find the time to go away!) The result was that my wife and I hardly ever saw each other.

So early that Thursday morning, we left messages for our bosses. I said that I wouldn't be able to make it into work since I was having problems seeing (seeing myself at work, that is). My wife made a call to her boss too. And off we went on our extended weekend vacation.

We had a great time. We both felt like school kids doing something naughty and secretive. The next day, we called our bosses again and said we still weren't feeling well. And as soon as we hung up, we went right back to bed where we spent the rest of the weekend.

Incidentally, it was hell at the office when we got back. Thank goodness for our weekend away, it was totally worth it!"

             

This "Romantic Notes" story comes
from Christine C.:

"I work as a restaurant server. Over the last year, a customer named Hank has been coming in regularly. He's quiet and attractive and a good tipper. He occasionally comes alone but mostly eats with his friends. After a few rounds of drinks, they joke around with me but Hank always makes sure they never cross the line.

When it comes time to pay the bill, Hank always writes something on the back. At first he wrote simple stuff like, "Thanks" or "Great meal". Occasionally he throws in a compliment like, "I like your new haircut." These ones usually catch me off guard and I wonder why he doesn't just say it to me instead of writing them on the bill. But it always makes me smile.

A few months ago, he and his friends came by as usual. Things went along as they usually do, but when it came time to pay the bill, he wrote, "Dinner was great! How about dessert?". Clueless, I grabbed a menu.

I returned to the table and he was the only one left sitting at his table. I started to hand him the dessert menu but he smiled and stopped me - then asked if I'd be interested in joining him for dessert after my shift! We've been dating now for nearly 4 months and it's been great."

             

Natasha R. from Victoria, BC sent us this story:

" My husband has always been much more of a morning person than I have. He's wide awake and cheerful at the crack of dawn, while I wake up slowly and sleepily.

One morning my husband gently woke me and led me outside onto our deck. Before I knew it (I was still very sleepy), he had wrapped me in a big warm blanket (warmed in the dryer!), put a steaming mug of coffee in my hands, and then wrapped his arms around me. As I began to wake up, the most spectacular sunrise unfolded in front of me. We live high on a hill with great ocean views and all of these years I had never seen the sunrise, at least not like this one! I will never forget that morning: wrapped in my husband's arms with a blazing orange sunrise highlighting both the sky and the water. Now I make it a point to get up early every Saturday morning so that we can watch the sunrise together."

             

This "I Started Dating My Wife Again" story comes from Trevor S.:

" A few months ago, I had to move the family. My job had become redundant and the company offered me a new job in another city. With the job market so poor, I had no choice but to accept the offer.

My wife and I put on brave faces to help the kids adjust to our new home, but I knew it bothered her. I wanted to reassure her that we made the right move, but it was tough because I wasn't sure of it myself. I wanted to change the tense atmosphere in our new home, so I figured I'd try to romance my wife like I used to back when we were first dating.

I placed notes in her books and on her chair. Sometimes they just said "I love you", sometimes I offered her a massage later that night. Once I prepared a late 'picnic' for us after the kids were asleep. She thought it was corny at first, but then I started receiving notes too. It became our private game.

We explored the parks in our new city, walking hand-in-hand (with kids on bikes), feeling like we were allies facing new challenges. And we talked. We talked about why leaving 'home' was so hard, and the new opportunities for us here. Most importantly, we finally felt relaxed enough to start smiling and laughing again, something we hadn't done since rumors of layoffs had started nearly a year ago. It was good to feel connected again, feel like we were partners despite the stress of starting a new life in a different city. Now, when I think about the move, I feel lucky -- we had let the romance fade away when we were in our old home, and now we have it back again."

             

This '14 Days of Romance' story comes from Leslie M.:

" My husband was the worst romantic gift-giver ever. His unoriginal, and usually late, gifts included flowers, bad chocolate and hideous clothing. I knew he meant well, but his execution was terrible. And then he surprised me last year for Valentine’s Day.

February 1 - On the first day of the month, a beautiful flower awaited me after a long day at work. It was an unexpected gift and looked out of place on the barren table. Even before I could ask “Why”, my husband said that I had popped into his mind as he crossed the local flower shop. His simple and small gesture made my day.

February 2 - I was again greeted with a surprisingly thoughtful gift. This time, sitting on the table was a pair of comfortable, new slippers. I’m not one to wear fuzzy footwear, but it turned out that they were really comfortable on our wood floors. My husband said that he thought I might be more comfortable around the house.

February 3 - On the drive home, I was anxious to see if another gift was waiting for me. My husband had surprised me for the past two days, and I wasn’t sure if my good luck was about run out. On the kitchen table were three little pastries from the local bakery. Perfect sweet treats to go along with his sweet

February 4-13 - Every day, the small gifts kept appearing. I received 4 chocolate roses, 5 balloons that said “I love you”, and lots more. On the 12th day he even brought me 12 chocolate-dipped strawberries! What a treat. I couldn’t imagine what Valentine’s Day would bring.

February 14 – My whole day was shot because my imagination ran wild. I was excited and nervous as I pulled up the driveway. I hadn’t felt this giddy in years! When I got home, the table held a piece of paper. Just a single, clean loose leaf sheet and on it was hand-written the words, “I love you” in 14 different languages.

I later found out that his sister had given him the '14 days of romance' idea (which would explain how a man who used to give wilted flowers as a belated anniversary gift could make such a remarkable turnaround). Even so, he made all the effort and chose all the gifts. It was perfect."

             

Cynthia from Florida writes:

" I'm one of those people who doesn't like surprises. My husband always kids me about being a control freak. Despite this we have a very happy marriage and have countless wonderful memories.

This holiday season, my husband, knowing my dislike of surprises, warned me that he was going to give me a surprise! He knows me very well and since he warned me, I was excited to see what he had in store for me. On Christmas Eve, he packed me into the car and we drove out to a beautiful cabin in the woods, much like the one my family used to gather at when we were children. It was beautiful, with Christmas lights strung along the house, and a deep feeling of peace. We had a lovely dinner prepared by my husband (who is a superb cook). It was so romantic, I was in heaven.

In the morning I had packed our bags again for the drive home. I wanted to get home early to start preparing Christmas dinner.

Imagine my consternation when he said we would be staying there! Beautiful as it was, I am a homebody and I can't imagine Christmas without our children and grandchildren. I love the bustle of Christmas and yes, I even love the noisy house!

I didn't want to hurt my husband's feelings and I tried as diplomatically as I could to let him know that I would rather be at home. He only smiled and said I deserved a break from cooking and cleaning and that he would take care of Christmas preparations. We could see everyone again the next day.

I was touched that he wanted to pamper me, but my heart was breaking to be away from family. I knew my husband was doing it for me and I didn't want to be ungrateful, so I hid my sadness and did my best to get into the festive spirit.

I shouldn't have doubted my husband. He knows me too well! At the dot of noon, the doorbell rang - and on the porch EVERYONE was standing there with big smiles and hugs, pots of food, and bags full of gifts! We all gathered together in this wonderful cabin, drank eggnog, talked and laughed, ate, ate, and ate, and of course exchanged gifts. It was the BEST Christmas I could have imagined. "

             

Mike J. from Victoria, BC writes:

" I fell in love with both my wife and with sailing during the summer of '98 when I was in the middle of school. My friends had convinced me to spend the summer in a small town in BC's interior, right by a lake, perfect for a nature-loving guy like me.

When I wasn't working, I took up sailing, a sport that my parents had taught me when I was child. It had been over 10 years since I rigged up a dingy, but I could still tie knots, raise sails and single-hand a small boat. Boat rentals were cheap on the waterfront and the girl working the rental booth was pretty and funny.

Every evening I would go down to the waterfront and rent a small boat. At first, I rigged up the boat myself, but then, as a ploy, I would ask Charlene for help. She taught me a few "new" knots and a few "new" rigging techniques. Soon, she was started to join me to show me a few "new" handling maneuvers. We got along great, so I finally got up the courage and confessed that I know my way around a boat... and told her that I just needed an excuse to get to know her. Good thing she has a sense of humour!

When the summer ended, we each returned to our home towns to continue our studies but agreed to transfer to a common school for the winter semester. With a little financial help from our parents, we went to school in Victoria where we also continued sailing.

Ten years later, we have a growing family, budding careers and a 25' foot sailboat, which we take out as much as possible. I feel like a lucky guy to have found a wife with the same passion for sailing that I have. When the kids get older we hope to pass it on to them too. "

             

Tom S. from Toronto writes:

" I've been married for 8 years and have a hectic time juggling a home life with a career. With the slowing economy, I've been spending more time at work which was beginning to squeeze romance into a smaller and smaller time slot. Something had to change.

I decided to surprise my wife with a short trip. Money was too tight for a flight to Las Vegas or Montreal, so I decided to plan a weekend trip to Niagara Falls, our local romantic hotspot.

I came home early on a Friday afternoon and surprised her. At first my wife was concerned about missing all of the regular weekend chores but then the excitement took hold. I told here it was going to be a relaxing weekend full of spontaneous moments and activities - no plans. She loved the idea!

Before we left, I purposely 'forgot' the cell phone and laptop at home. At first I felt disconnected and lost without my high-tech toys, but was surprised to find that I forgot about them after we spent hours talking and laughing, something we very rarely do when we're at home and busy with work or chores.

We spent the weekend walking hand-in-hand, napping and relaxing. We even ventured onto a ship that took us to the foot of Niagara Falls. Even though we were cloaked in rain coats, we still got drenched from head to toe. And we loved it! "

             

Susie B. from Spokane writes:

" I'm a mother of three toddlers with little time to spend on myself, let alone with my husband. We make a good team providing for our growing family but romance has taken a back seat for the past few years.

One day my husband surprised me. It was a regular early weekday except Jared awoke earlier than usual. I was busy doing chores when he came downstairs and said that I had the day off. Of course I thought he was crazy. But he said that he was staying home from work for the day to give me break and that my girlfriend was coming over shortly to pick me up for an all-inclusive break that he arranged. He wouldn't give me any details no matter how much I pestered him.

Jackie started the drive without letting one clue slip. I was angry at her, guilty for leaving my babies at home, and worried about potential disasters that could happen in my absence. But when we pulled up to doors of a luxurious day spa, I was won over. I hadn't been pampered since before becoming a mother.

Jackie and I made it a point to talk about our lives, not our kid's lives, in order to catch up with each other. We had pedicures, manicures, facial massages... the works. I hadn't felt so relaxed in years.

When I returned home I was greeted by the piercing scream of a smoke alarm. The kids were at the neighbor's house and the romantic dinner my husband had been trying to cook was burning in the oven. We had dinner together anyways. Despite the dinner disaster, I still appreciated my husband's thoughtful gift. The whole day made me feel like a person - and a woman! - again. "

             

Jocelyn W. from Vancouver writes:

" My husband always tells his friends that he married the most UN-romantic woman in the world. He is truly a romantic guy at heart and it still amazes me that he would marry me. I'm the type of person who prefers to watch a movie in old sweats at home, while shovelling chips in my mouth, rather than dress up to dine by candlelight at some fancy restaurant. He, on the other hand, does all sorts of spontaneous and romantic things for me which I DO appreciate.

One Saturday night a couple of weeks ago my husband surprised me (as he often does). I had just come inside from gardening and saw that he had laid out my perfect idea of a night at home: he laid out my most ratty, comfortable pair of sweatpants; my favorite oversized t-shirt (his); bowls of chips in my favorite flavors; and one of those teenage slasher horror flicks that I love (a shameful secret of mine).

It made me appreciate him even more to see that he is willing to create a 'romantic' night for me in the way I like it, even if it's not HIS idea of romance. I am very lucky to have him. "

             

Jamie F. from Alberta writes:

" My husband is a back-to-nature type of guy and although I love him dearly, I don't share his enjoyment of camping. He created the best surprise for me that we both really enjoyed: after a particularly bad work week he suggested we schedule a 'date'. He told me to dress comfortably and casually as he had a surprise for me.

He picked me up from work and we started driving. Eventually we came to a beautiful wooded setting. He suggested we go for a walk (I don't like camping, but I do love walks in the forest). Hand-in-hand, we went for a stroll... and then stopped at a small clearing where there were a couple of his friends, who smiled and disappeared, leaving a picnic table beautifully laid out with a gourmet picnic, wine included! It was a tasty treat and I was delighted.

After dinner, my mountain-main husband cleaned up the 'dining area' and strung everything else up in the trees to keep the bears away. Then he led me down another path, which ended in a campsite with a large tent. I was so overwhelmed with the work he had put in to arrange the picnic that I was willing to camp out with him for the night - but surprise! The tent was outfitted with deluxe portable beds and beautiful cuddly blankets. It was like something out of a dream! We spent a wonderful night in our little love nest.

In the morning we returned to the picnic site and found everything cleaned up, and the same friends waiting there with breakfast laid out. Once again, they smiled and disappeared as soon as we arrived (I later found out that they went back to our campsite and took everything down and packed it out). We had a delectable breakfast in the cool fresh morning air. Afterwards, we cleaned up and made our way back to the car.

I'm blown away at how much work it must have been to arrange this one romantic night. It was a perfect romantic getaway and I'm so grateful to have my husband. "

             

Todd G. from Ontario writes:

" I don't have a 'most romantic thing' to write about. I'm writing to say that I appreciate that my wonderful wife actually pays attention to my (mostly incoherent) ramblings about the stuff I like. I know I'm not always the most romantic guy but I do try, and my wife knows I try. I have a bad memory so whenever my wife mentions she likes something I make a note of it in my Blackberry. My wife is always appreciative of my romantic gestures.

Anyhow, I am constantly amazed at what my wife remembers. And I've never caught her writing anything down! She prepares a romantic meal for us (she's a great cook and I love to eat), and then she'll rent a movie that she's heard me mention that I wanted to see. On a few occasions she's brought home a Nintendo Wii game I've wanted to try and we have a blast playing together.

This probably doesn't sound too romantic but I assure you, ladies, it is: it's nice to be the 'romanced' one sometimes even if we don't always share the same idea of romance! "

             

Jan from Portland writes:

"I was dating my boyfriend for 6 years. I noticed that he was drifting apart, staying out later, and acting distant towards me. I tried to talk to him about it on a few occasions but he wasn't interested. I was so frustrated and upset.

One day he called me at work and asked me to meet him at a restaurant. I braced myself, thinking, 'He's going to break up with me.' I showed up at the restaurant very tense and steeling myself for the worst.

It was horrible. He seemed really tense and was barely talking. I tried to just keep eating since I didn't know what else to do. I was miserable. When he took a deep breath, I thought to myself, 'This is it.' So I looked up. And I saw him holding a small box towards me. It took me a few seconds to realize what was happening but when I did, I started bawling uncontrollably! My poor boyfriend was confused and stressed out. It took me a few moments before I could say 'YES!'.

Later we laughed about it when we realized he didn't actually get a chance to propose. In fact, he hadn't even opened the box! He said he had been looking for the perfect ring and was preoccupied trying to figure out how to propose, that's why he seemed distant. He also said he thought I was angry with him for some reason (I was! I didn't know what was going on with him!) so when I started crying at the restaurant he didn't know what to do.

The 'proposal that never happened' wasn't what I had in mind, but it truly was one of our best romantic moments."

             

Greg A. from Edmonton, Alberta writes:

"I met my wife when we were both in our early twenties. We were crazy about each other (still are!). Soon after we started dating I was sent away on a long business trip. We were apart for months. On a whim one day, I wrote her a funny and romantic letter. We talked on the phone every night but she had mentioned on our last call that 'it wasn't the same' as being together. I figured the letter would at least be something she could hold in the her hands.

Then, just as I was going to mail it, I had another idea. I put the letter in an envelope, wrote my wife's name on it, sealed the envelope, and put it away.

It was our tenth anniversary this year. A few days before the big date, I pulled out the letter I had written so many years ago, and addressed the envelope to our home address. I wrote, 'To Be Opened On Your Anniversary'. And I dropped the letter in the mail.

My wife's jaw dropped when she opened the letter and realized that it had been written years and years ago. She even got a little teary-eyed, which is saying something since she doesn't cry easily! It was nice to see her so surprised and happy over such a small gesture."

             

Cheryl T. of New York writes:

"I have lived in my neighborhood for nearly 8 years now and every day since I've lived here I see a lovely senior couple walking hand-in-hand. They're not doing anything special (usually shopping for fruit or window shopping) but they always look so happy. They laugh together and touch each other like they're a new couple in love.

One day I didn't see them. I didn't think anything of it until I didn't see them for several days, which turned into weeks and then months. I wondered if they had moved away. I hoped not - even though I had never spoken to them I enjoyed seeing them still in love after so many years.

Then one day they reappeared! The man is now in a wheelchair. That hasn't stopped them... every day I see them together on the sidewalks again, the woman pushing the man's wheelchair, and still talking and laughing like newlyweds. It always brings a tear to my eye. I hope to be so lucky when I'm their age!"

             

 
MIRACLE BY CHANCE - © Jeannette Gardner (December, 2007)

This is a “true story” about how I met my boyfriend on a dating site on the Internet.

15 Years Ago: I used to hang out at a country bar called the “Club Palomino”. I used to drag my friend out to see my favourite band playing called “Cheyenne”, who were amazing and always packed the place. I was interested in the rhythm guitar player in the band, to me, he was the best looking one, and I loved his voice along with his rhythm guitar sound. Yes, I had the “hots” for him and would goggle eye him playing his guitar/singing while I was on the dance floor, or just standing at the bar listening and staring.

After seeing them playing there for a long time, the “Club Palomino” closed down. When I first found out about the club closing down, I wanted to approach “Cheyenne”, particularly the rhythm guitar player and ask where they would be playing in the future. But I didn’t have enough courage to do that. I guess things happen for a reason.

15 Years Later: As time went on I met someone and got married. Eventually we got a divorce. I started going out to bars again, got tired of it and not meeting anyone decent. A friend told me to join a dating site on the Internet, which I thought I would never do. But, I thought I would check it out for fun as I heard so much about it through people even meeting their soul mates from that site.

Surprisingly, I had a few dates, meeting in public places, but just didn’t find the right one and thought I never would from a dating site. I sort of gave up on it until one night. After getting home from a bar, which I hated, I went on my computer. I logged in that site again and found an interesting email from a guy and liked his picture. We started emailing each other and eventually got on MSN. We discovered that we had so much in common. We chatted every night as often as we could.

And then, a miracle happened! We started chatting about music. Wow… we also liked all the same music and we both wrote songs. I told him I liked country music and used to frequent a particular bar about 15 years ago, which had closed down. Of course he asked me the name of the bar back then. I told him the “Club Palomino”. He was really surprised and told me he used to play there. I wasn’t sure whether to believe him or not! He said he would send me a picture of his band that played there. I thought, “yeah right” to myself as I waited patiently in front of my computer for the picture.

Low and behold, a huge picture came up on my screen, “CHEYENNE” “CLUB PALOMINO”. I couldn’t believe it! It was him in the picture with “Cheyenne”. The guy I was interested in who was the rhythm guitar player in my favourite band. I was so shocked that I went crazy seeing this picture! He gave me his phone number and after a few weeks we decided to meet.

He took me to the local Canadian Legion where we talked, had a drink together and got more acquainted. After a while, he asked me if I didn’t mind if he got up on stage to do a solo. He got up on stage and started playing his guitar and singing. That did it for me. I was hooked! And the guy I admired 15 years ago was performing in front of my eyes, and was my date! I was in heaven!

We dated for about 2 years and it was absolutely wonderful. Eventually we bought a condo and have been living together for 2 ½ years now. In March of 2008, it will be 5 years being together, playing music, and still laughing! We are just two peas in a pod!

It’s funny how life is ­ it just wasn’t meant to be back then. Fate brought us together. We met our “soul mates”, thanks to that dating site!

- Jeannette and Rick

             

Sandra S. from North Carolina writes:

"When we were young, my husband and I used to go to great lengths to create an elaborate Valentine's Day celebration. I remember rushing around, struggling to get last minute details taken care of, and usually panicked, stressed out, and exhausted by the time Valentine's Day arrived! We had some great times but then it occurred to us:

-- Why be loving and nice for just one day a year?

We always heard the hoopla from detractors of Valentine's Day (we thought they were just scrooges), but it turns out they're right. Now my husband and I have TWO "Valentine's Day" celebrations every WEEK! It's not nearly so elaborate of course. I am retired so some day mid-week I make or buy something special for my husband. He does the same for me sometime on the weekend. It's often something small but meaningful to the other person (he picked me a bouquet of bright spring daffodils one time, I made him a pair of "World's Proudest Grandpa" socks another time).

It is so much more fun now and so much less stressful. We have had some very interesting nights! I think these little gestures have helped us to remain loving to each other all these years."

             

Julianne S. from Calgary, Alberta writes:

"We just had the most romantic holidays ever! Usually I am so stressed out and busy trying to get all the food and decorating done in time for everyone to arrive. I have been doing this for over 20 years and it never gets easier!

This year, a few days before Christmas my husband picked me up after a day of shopping. After driving for a while I realized we weren't heading home. My husband had already packed a suitcase for me and whisked me away for 3 nights in the mountains! He had it planned for months. It was perfect, peaceful, we had INCREDIBLE food at all the local mountain restaurants, and a room with the best views.

While we were there my hubby mentioned that he had 'put his foot down' and told everyone we were going potluck for this Christmas. It was wonderful. I was so relaxed when we got home, and our kids surprised us by decorating our house! Picture-perfect. We all had a wonderful stress -free Christmas since no one was stuck with all the work! I couldn't have asked for more."

             

Torry S. from Vancouver, British Columbia writes:

"My family means everything to me. My family also includes my lovely 14-year-old dog, Jocko, who has been a great friend to me. When I met the man who is now my husband, I introduced him to my dog and they immediately became fast friends.

My husband and I got married one year ago. When we were making preparations for the wedding I insisted that we find a pet-friendly venue for the wedding since Jocko has been there for most of the major events in my life and he should be part of this one too!

I was busy trying to look perfect for the wedding and my husband offered to look after Jocko since, as he put it, it would only take him 5 minutes to get dressed.

During the ceremony, I was surprised and delighted to see Jocko trot out in his very own doggy tux and take his place next to my husband. Then it came time for the exchange of rings. My husband quietly said something to Jocko, who turned and retrieved a small pillow with the ring and held it up for my husband so that he could put the ring on my finger. I cried and cried! My husband put so much effort into showing Jocko what to do and of course, Jocko (who is a dog genius) had no trouble at all. It was perfect. ALL of my friends and family, including my long-time dog friend, were a part of our wedding. It was the most romantic thing."

             

Manfred S. from Vancouver, BC writes:

"After twenty-five years of raising children, one day my wife and I finally became empty-nesters. We hardly knew what to say to each other because the previous two and a half decades were so children-focused. We remembered how much fun we had together as a couple before we had kids (although the kids were fun too, just not in a husband- wife way). We jointly decided we had to do something to spark our marriage.

We designated Saturday nights as 'our' night: no friends, no family, nobody but us. My wife has a passion for cooking and is great at it, so the deal is that she prepares us a delicious meal (the whole nine yards, with appetizers, main course, salad, dessert), and I'm responsible for the setting: I create the ambiance and pick up flowers or candles or whatever else I need, as well as a movie we can watch after dinner (the understanding is that I'll probably stop in at Canadian Tire or Home Depot to look around, but I'm always back on time!).

We have a lot of fun working together to create our romantic evening plus it's always interesting to see what the other person will come up with!"

             

Jacquie B. from Quebec City, Quebec wrote:

"The most romantic trip my boyfriend and I ever took was a canoe trip! We both love nature but due to our busy jobs we don't get out as much as we like. We planned the perfect canoe route through Algonquin Park in Ontario and had the best time.

Before we started we had a great picnic lunch of fresh French bread, cheese, wine, and fresh fruit, and sat by the lake, looking at the beautiful fall colours. We had to enjoy the food before the trip because once we were in the backcountry everything we ate was freeze-dried!

It was so perfect. Canoeing is quiet and romantic for us anyways but this time we would pull into our campsite and watch the sunsets in the perfect quiet of nature. Then at night it would often rain, and we snuggled together, just the two of us in our little tent, listening to the sounds. It was perfect, I wouldn't have changed a thing and we hope to go again some day soon."

             

Joan S. from Winnipeg, Manitoba writes:

"Hi, I wanted to share a romantic story with your readers. Like some of the other stories I read I also have one of those 'strong silent types' for a husband. He also doesn't do 'romance' very well although I know he loves me.

One day I came home to find that my husband had made ME dinner! This probably doesn't sound like a big deal but it really was. My husband does many things around the house but cooking is definitely not one of them. He is a terrible cook. The pasta was overcooked (or stuck together in clumps), the meat nearly inedible (it was so tough), the garlic toast was burnt and the salad was drenched (soggy!) in dressing.

Doesn't sound very romantic? It really was. The BEST thing was how bashful he looked. He was embarassed and proud and shy all at the same time. We had a great time. We couldn't stop laughing. We mushed up the pasta (the parts that weren't a hardened lump) and pretended it was baby food. We tried to saw through the meat and had such trouble it squirted off the plate and onto the floor (where the dog had a feast). It was so fun. Even if it wasn't edible! We went out to McDonald's afterwards."

             

Peter H. from Toronto, Ontario writes:

"My wife has been bugging me to take ballroom dancing lessons (for much longer than those reality dance shows have been airing!). I don't like to dance and I have no rhythm. I was afraid I was going to embarass myself (and her) so I refused. Finally my wife talked me into it. Actually, what she said was, 'The only thing I want for our 20th anniversary is to take ballroom dancing lessons together.' This time I couldn't say no.

It's hard to admit that I actually had fun. All of the other couples were nervous like I was, and many, many people were klutzes just like I was (and am). There were a few embarassing moments (for everyone) but also lots of laughs.

After 20 years of marriage, ballroom dancing lessons was a great bonding experience. I think it's because we have to work together as a team (you'd be surprised at how intimate some of that stuff is). It turns out my wife has dancing talent! It also turns out that she's damned sexy, I had no idea she could move like that. Lots of fun."

             

Linda W. from Vancouver, BC writes:

"My husband is one of those guys who thinks that physical torture is fun. He's been doing triathlons ever since I met him and a couple of years ago he convinced me to train for one. I reluctantly agreed.

When we left the house on the day of the race he was dressed in his normal race wear. I didn't think much of it since I thought he was doing it to be supportive. Then I found out he really WAS being supportive! He had also signed up for the race without my knowing, and he stayed by my side for the whole race, encouraging me and making jokes to take my mind off the fact that I hate triathlons! This is the best part: as we approached the finish line, he took my hand and we both stepped on the finish line at the same time! It was a lot of fun and very romantic."

             

Linda H. from Toronto, Ontario writes:

"My husband is kind of gruff and pretty quiet but he does many little things (usually silently LOL) to show that he loves me.

After we had our last child, I was exhausted. We both get up at the same time. My husband usually leaves very early for work and I care for our children while he's at work. I was on the verge of tears one morning because I was so tired, I was literally on my last reserves of strength (physical and mental). I tried not to show it because I know my husband works really hard too, so I kissed my husband like I always do and went to go take my shower.

When I got out of the shower I saw he had written me a message on the steamed-up mirror. It said, 'You're a great mom. I've taken the day off work. Now it's your turn.'

I feel a little silly writing about something so small but it really did touch my heart."

             

             

Joanna E. from Edmonton, Alberta writes:

"I have a small romantic story to share although it's not as elaborate as some of the stories I've read here. My husband and I were both so busy with work for many many months that we hadn't done anything together in forever. I always came home so crabby! I didn't mean to be, it was just that I was tired (and so was he) and all we ever did was come home and watch TV after I had made us dinner.

One Friday night I came home and the house was all candlelit. My husband had ordered from my favourite restaurant (he is hopeless in the kitchen but I love him anyways). He also went to the grocery store and bought fresh sweet strawberries and a chocolate fountain! It was laid out so beautifully and everything so delicious that my bad mood evaporated. I know my husband appreciates me, but it was nice to see him show it. It was so nice to be pampered."

             

Craig D. from Calgary, Alberta writes:

"My wife had lost a friend in a car accident a few months back and had been depressed ever since. I didn't know what to do to cheer her up. I'm not much of a romantic guy but I'm lucky to have a friend who is. My friend suggested something easy that even a clueless guy like me could pull off: I took small pieces of paper and wrote stuff on them like, 'Massage', 'Dinner @ La Caille', 'Breakfast in bed', and other stuff my wife likes. Then I put each piece of paper into a balloon, and filled the balloons with helium.

I left work early that day and put the balloons together into a colourful bouquet and surprised my wife when she came in the door from work. She loved it. Every day she would pop a balloon to get the surprise inside. I forgot that helium doesn't last forever and some of the balloons started looking sort of shrunken after a couple of days but we had a good laugh about it (and she had fun trying to pop the 'shrunken heads', as she called them)."

             

Sylvia W. from Vancouver, BC writes:

"My husband and I are both in our mid 30s. Last year we were trying to think of something special to do for our upcoming anniversary (we wanted to do more than our usual dinner at a nice restaurant) and my husband's colleague, who is nearing retirement age, suggested that we go on a cruise. At first we scoffed at the idea. My parents have gone on a cruise before and they said everyone was around their age or older. We didn't really want to spend our anniversary in an environment where there was probably a lot less excitement than we're used to! We put aside the information without a second thought.

Nearly one month later we still hadn't figured out anything to do (we both got so busy with work that we didn't have time to investigate other options). Out of desperation that we NOT spend another anniversary doing the same thing, we decided that we might as well go ahead and book the cruise.

We were expecting the other passengers to be much older than we were, and we weren't surprised. They were all 50 or older. We tried hard to be positive but in truth, we were feeling quite unenthused about the whole thing. ... that is, until later that first night: we found ourselves alone, on deck, with a brilliant canopy of stars above us. What could be more romantic! It turned out that the other passengers had already gone to their rooms for the night! It was completely deserted except for the occasional crew member.

Every night of the cruise everyone except us retired to their rooms by 10:00pm but usually earlier. We spent every night all alone on the deck of the ship, gazing at the stars, with total privacy! The dining room was very accommodating and put together some delicious late-night snacks for us to enjoy all by our lonesome. It was so romantic and so perfect, definitely the most romantic anniversary we've had."

             

Susan B. from Vancouver, BC writes:

"I love my husband dearly and three years ago we were celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary and wanted to go somewhere special. We chose a small private cabin on Galiano Island. My husband is more of the 'nature' type and I am more of the 'pampering and spa' type but because I chose our vacation the previous year, he chose this one.

When we arrived no one greeted us, the key was just left inside the cabin. The cabin was very clean but very basic. There were no amenities to speak of, not like a hotel. To tell the truth I was a bit put off at first! But it turned out to be the most romantic vacation we've ever had because of two things: 1) the most incredible sunsets anyone would be lucky to see! (I have a weakness for sunsets) and 2) my thoughtful and adoring husband.

My husband had called ahead to a local cafe and had them prepare a breakfast and lunch basket for each of the three days we were there. Oh, they were so good, with lots of fresh bread and cheese and wine and fruit, and there were homemade brownies to die for. Every morning we would wake up and have breakfast on the outdoor patio in the fresh ocean air. Every lunch we would take a walk along an oceanside path and stop somewhere to have lunch. For dinner, we would take a trip around the island and stop anywhere we felt like. Our bedroom looked out over the ocean and snuggling in bed watching the sunsets was perfect.

I was so surprised to really & truly enjoy myself. I've always stayed in hotels before and didn't know if I would like to stay in the middle of nowhere! It was so romantic, I would do it again anytime."

             

Craig T. from Montreal, Quebec writes:

"My wife of 23 years has always wanted to visit the maritimes. She especially loves Anne of Green Gables and has desperately wanted to visit PEI but we were never able to get away since we were raising a son. Last year our son moved away and I decided to surprise my wife.

First I called my wife's boss to make sure she could get the time off (and I swore her to secrecy). I booked a room at a bed & breakfast inn, one with a fireplace and a jacuzzi tub and great food. Then I put together an Anne of Green Gables 'package': I researched all the places, called to get brochures, got tickets to the musical, and put everything into a nice package (okay, my sister-in- law did that part but only because I'm not good at wrapping things).

She loved it! I gave it to her when she wasn't expecting it. We were sitting in front of the TV (watching something intellectual like Survivor or Top Model or something), not really talking. During the commercial I said, "I need you to take care of this" (which is what I say sometimes when I ask her to pay a bill) and she irritably said, "Later". I said, "It can't wait". She snapped, "What is it?" That's when I handed her the package. The look on her face was priceless. She was a mess, crying and hugging, and the trip turned out awesome.

The trip 'broke the ice' between us. We had spent the previous 22 years only talking about child-rearing and our son, and when we were first alone together it was awkward because neither of us knew what to talk about. This one gesture made our marriage more fun and relaxed overall and it's almost like it was when we first met, probably even better."

             

Jennifer S. from Kamloops, BC writes:

"My husband has been trying to convince me for years to go to northern BC. I was born and raised in Toronto and I wasn't too interested in visiting the middle of nowhere! After a lot of hounding from my husband (and men say women nag!) I finally agreed to go with him on the condition that he take me for a romantic trip to a nice hotel in Banff later that year.

This is hard to say, my husband was right (gulp, does that mean I was wrong?)! Away from the glow of the city lights we could actually see STARS in the night sky. We had many romantic walks and picnics near beautiful rivers & lakes, saw lots of wildlife, and there was so much privacy. We even braved a horseback ride and I was surprised to find how much fun it was. It was the most time we've had together in YEARS and there was nothing to distract us... just us and nature! I don't remember laughing so much in a long time and it helped both of us remember why we're still together after all this time.

For all the people who are reluctant to try something new... TRY IT! And by the way, I got my trip to Banff too!"

             

Jean C. from Manitoba writes:

""When I was in university I had a very good friend named Alex. Although we never dated, we spent all of our free time together. I was heartbroken when we couldn't find jobs in the same city after graduation. We parted, and as life often does, we went in different directions and lost touch.

I eventually met and married my wonderful husband. We spent 37 happy years together before he died after an illness. For 3 years afterwards I was depressed and it was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other. I was struggling but I knew something had to change. I forced myself to join a senior's centre to meet people, and gradually I started to get my life back.

One day a new man joined our social group. He was so handsome and full of life, and he looked naggingly familiar. As he approached me I racked my brain to figure out where I had met him before. Grocery store? Bank? I couldn't place him but I did not want to seem rude because I couldn't remember his name. I knew for sure we had met before.

When he reached me he held out his hand and with a twinkle in his eye, said, 'Hi Jean. I'm Alex. I think we've met before.' It was him! My university friend. He had spotted me when he came in and had thought it might be me, so he asked one of the other ladies my name and where I was from.

Since then we are again great friends and even more. I feel so fortunate to have a second chance at the age of 71!"

             

Wendy W. from Toronto, Ontario writes:

"My husband and I have been married for over 25 years. A few years ago I was down in the dumps because I felt we weren't connecting as much anymore. We spent most of our adult lives raising our three beautiful children and when they left home, my husband and I didn't remember how to talk to each other. Thus we spent most of our time together silently watching TV or reading. I cried a lot because I was sad that we weren't enjoying each other's company and because I didn't know how to bring it up.

One day I found an envelope stuck in my door. When I opened it there was an incredibly romantic letter from a 'secret admirer' who lived in the neighbourhood. He wrote that he saw me around all the time and found me very attractive and would like to get to know me better. I was flattered and amazed, but I was still married and I love and respect my husband. So I tucked the letter away and tried not to think about it.

A few days later I got another letter and this time my secret admirer asked me to meet him at a nearby coffee shop the next day. I ignored it again. My husband and I were still having problems but I just couldn't bring myself to secretly meet with another man, even though it was very flattering.

Then a few days after that I got ANOTHER letter! This one said that my admirer would 'drop by to say hello' one day when he saw me outside. I actually stopped gardening for a while so that he wouldn't do it! Finally I couldn't stand to stay cooped up indoors any longer and I started gardening again. While I was outside one day my husband came home early. I was so flustered! When I asked him why he was home, he said that he's 'seen me around' for years and finds me attractive, and he wants to get to know me better. My HUSBAND was my secret admirer! It was so romantic, and it broke the ice between us and now we have a fun & exciting marriage again."

             

Tina H. from Toronto, Ontario writes:

"My husband and I moved to Canada six years ago. I don't have a big romantic story to tell, but I think I have the best romantic gift! On our wedding anniversary we were officially sworn in as Canadian citizens, the best gift we could have imagined! We are incredibly proud to be Canadian, this is the most welcoming and beautiful country in the world.!"

             

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