| Ask anyone in a committed long-term union for the | | | | just looking at funny greeting cards. Tell stories about |
| secret of their success. Almost always, one of the | | | | things that happened to you before you met and |
| top three reasons cited is the ability to laugh | | | | reminisce about the fun times you've had since you |
| together. No matter how big the problems, or how | | | | first became an item. |
| many the obstacles, they will be most effectively | | | | Take a foreign language class at a local adult school |
| approached with a sense of humor and the | | | | and decide that you will only communicate in that |
| teamwork that emerges from shared laughter and a | | | | language over dinner, if nothing else it will really polish |
| mutually positive outlook. | | | | your charades ability. Take an art class and laugh at |
| While some fun costs money: an amusement park, a | | | | your own ineptness with color and perspective. Take |
| fine meal out, a trip to Vegas, or that hilarious new | | | | a bus or train ride and make up stories about the |
| movie, there are many fun activities that don't cost a | | | | other passengers, Sing Kareoke and mutually laugh at |
| dime. Give your partner the gift or being a slave for | | | | the probable response your efforts would elicit if you |
| a week, including the requisite master or mistress | | | | auditioned for "American Idol." Pretend you've just |
| verbiage, pulling your forelock, bowing or curtseying, | | | | met and try out some stale pick up lines to see each |
| and backing out of the room. The results can be | | | | other's reaction. |
| very funny, especially if carried into public or in front | | | | Life is so short and there are so many problems that |
| of the kids. | | | | arise and challenges that must be faced. At times, |
| Both of you call in sick to work and play hooky - | | | | we become overwhelmed by the responsibilities we |
| hang out at the mall like truant high school | | | | must bear and the energy required to keep our lives |
| sophomores. Spend some time coming up with totally | | | | on an even keel. |
| outrageous excuses that you know you will never be | | | | Deliberately establishing "recess" periods gives us a |
| able to deliver with a straight face. If it's summer, | | | | break from the daily grind. Just as children don't learn |
| wash the car, and each other, in the driveway. If it's | | | | well if they don't have a chance to go out and play, |
| winter, have a snowball fight or walk in the rain. Walk | | | | adults need a recess too. It allows us to return to |
| along the beach or in the hills or stroll through town | | | | work re-energized and renewed. The more we |
| window shopping. | | | | practice it, the more frequent it will become. Most |
| Watch television together: not the dreary news but | | | | importantly, the play time with our partner intensifies |
| old Seinfeld or Lucy reruns which are just as funny | | | | our relationship and can keep our affection green and |
| as when they were made. Search out joke sites on | | | | growing through the years ahead. |
| the Internet or spend some time at the drugstore | | | | |