My husband and I were married 29 year ago today. Like any couple that makes it this long, there have been highs and lows, but so far we've survived. Since thoughts of him are dancing in my mind today, I collected these sites about love, romance and how to build a relationship (of any kind) that will outlast even the worst that life dishes out.
• www.lovingyou.com. This site was sent to me along with several others as possible pages for my Valentine's Day column last year. My computer crashed not long after that and the e-mail was lost -- until my crash earlier this summer when I was once again using the old hard drive and discovered it was still stored there. At any rate, Elizabeth Edwards of Hyde Park sent addresses for several "romantic" sites including this one. As she put it, "If it has to do with matters of the heart, you'll find it on the 'Loving You' site, from getting someone interested in the first place to keeping them that way for the long run."
She's right. These pages cover everything from initial attraction to first dates, from living together to marriage and from enjoying sex to dealing with the ex. Even though it's a year later, Elizabeth, your site is still one of the best.
• www.mainstreetmom.com/marr_time_rom.htm. Long on family values, the Main Street Mom site gives voice to some basic advice that sometimes gets lost in the romantic shuffle. Although the advice is aimed at traditional couples, most of the suggestions about how to get along are just as appropriate for gay couples, and relationships between family members, friends and even business partners. Getting back to the Golden Rule would be a great start to all human interaction.
• www.theromantic.com. If your goal is to put the spark back in your love life, this is the site that can help you do it. The best part is that while other sites offer one or two suggestions, this one has done some serious thinking and offers suggestions sure to suit every situation. You'll find thousands of creative ways to express your feelings. Included are hundreds of personal stories, advice from experts, answers to hundreds of questions about happiness stumbling blocks and plenty more. There's a section on how to improve your kisses and another on putting the passion back into your sex life.
• www.timelessmessage.com. Speaking of unique and creative, this site allows you to select a romantic message (or write one of your own) and have it sealed in a gorgeous European-made bottle and delivered to your one and only (or would-be O&O). The packaging is sumptuous and the thought is sheer romance. But even if you can't afford to spend $50-$70 to send a Timeless Message, there's nothing that says you can't make your own, so visit just for inspiration.
• www.rom101.com. This one has a nice collection of stories, articles and how-tos all aimed at improving your romantic relationships. It's easy to navigate and has plenty of good advice.
• www.theromancereader.com. Finally, if your idea of romance is curling up in a comfortable chair and pulling out the latest Anna DeStefano book, you'll love this site. Hundreds of romance novels have been reviewed. To find out which book has a windblown Lance (or Drake or Nigel) waiting for you at the mansion on the mountain cliff, you'll need to stop by this site first.
Jan Perry is a Kentucky-based freelance writer for The Post. She welcomes your ideas, comments and suggestions. Send them to SiteSeer2K@aol.com.
