Hey Dad,

Are you as excited about this Sunday as I am? After all, Father's Day is the single greatest holiday of the year … well, it should be!! Actually, my kids are probably more concerned about Monday the 21st—known around my house as Kid's Day.

We've chosen the first day of summer to celebrate our children. But right now, I can't really concentrate on Father's Day or Kid's Day. I'm still a little woozy from celebrating our anniversary yesterday. The thing about anniversaries is that we dads usually botch them (I've got a few under my belt). If we're lucky, we get our wife a card, but even that sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. The thing is … most men just don't care much about special days.

Know what? We should. Especially marriage anniversaries. If not for our sake, then for our wife's. What wife wouldn't love for her man to make a big fuss over the day that they were united as one?

So here it is: "Anniversaries for Dummies" (you may substitute the word Men for dummies if you'd like):

1. The card. Get one. Don't just sign your name. Write something … you know, why you love her and how you'd do it all over again if you were given the choice. Think mushy.
   
   
2. The gift. I know what you're thinking, "But my wife and I decided not to do gifts anymore." Get her a gift anyway. Or, better yet, get her a gift for every year that you've been married … like her favorite candy, sunglasses, fun earrings ($4.96 at Wal-Mart), a snazzy pen, pretty stationary … you're on your own for the rest. Pick up some wrapping paper and wrap each gift separately.
   
   
3. The date. Get a baby sitter and go out. Tell her to order whatever she wants.
   
   
4. The mood. Look through your wedding album, wedding video, or old love notes.
   
   
5. Check your motives. Make sure all that you do isn't only for what you might get in return … if you know what I mean! So … do it for her, not you.
   
   

Now you might be saying, "Yeah, but, Todd, that'll take a ton of effort and cost money."

My answer, "Duh." That's what love is. You 'da Dad, [Todd] PS: If you already missed your anniversary, it's not too late. Celebrate your anniversary day this month … you know, your 189th month anniversary.

Copyright Todd Wilson, 2004. Used by permission. [6/17/04]

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