And then, as he carried me to his private jet, he suddenly stopped. He took my trembling hands in his huge, manly paws and lightly kissed my fingers. He took a box from his silk-lined pocket. Inside was a 40-karat diamond ring. ‘Jean-Claude-Antoine-Pierre de Chardonnay!’ I gasped. ‘My beloved,’ he said, breathing a musky fois gras my way.”
Nobody wrote that. When asked what was the nicest thing your partner ever did for you, nobody mentioned private jets, 40-karat rings or even fois gras. The way to your heart is won with ham croquettes, wool caps, a thoughtful word and good timing.
Kelly: “Last year, I moved to Chicago from Charleston, S.C. Needless to say, I was not prepared for a Chicago winter. Winter in Charleston consists of warm, rainy, 55-degree days. As soon as the bitter Chicago cold kicked in, I knew I was in for it. I was not equipped with the proper attire: no hat, no gloves and a very thin jacket.
“One night on the phone, I mentioned to Ronnie how badly I needed to flip through the L.L. Bean catalog to stock up on a few items. I hung up the phone. Two days later, as I was coming home from work, I saw a package on my front step. It was a delivery from J. Crew. Inside was a wool toboggan hat. The note said, ‘I hope this helps. Ronnie.’ I now have a warm jacket and gloves to go with my hat.”
Holly: “I was working full time and taking evening classes toward a master’s degree in computer science. I had just started getting to know Eddie through mutual friends. He heard I was taking computer courses and offered his help. I didn’t take him up on it right away, but when the time came, he was heading out of town on vacation. He called me constantly during his trip, asking if I had any problems or questions.
When he returned, he continued to call. Whenever he knew I was going to be at the computer lab, he would show up to help.
“Then one night, I thought I’d give him a break, so told him I wasn’t going to the lab that night. But I went after work and there he was sitting at my terminal, debugging my program.”
Joni: “In May 1992, my husband of 24 years told me he didn’t want to be married anymore and he left. We had been high school sweethearts and had two great children. In August 1995, I met a wonderful man while country dancing. We had a lot in common and started dating exclusively.
“On Christmas Eve, we gathered with about 30 of my relatives. These aunts, uncles and cousins had not seen me with another man for nearly 30 years. The evening was festive, but I was aware that it could have been stressful for David, meeting so many people at once, remembering so many names.
“At the end of the night, he looked at me and said, ‘Did I tell you today that I love you?’ That said it all.”
Sherry: “My husband wanted to give me a very special Valentine’s Day dinner. We had reservations at a wonderful private dining club on the top floor of a 30-story building where they give the ladies roses, even when it’s not Valentine’s Day, so I knew it would be very special I looked forward to dressing up for this special night.
“My husband came home from work with a corsage, even though he thought it was corny. But I came home with the worst headache that I couldn’t shake. My stepdad had been buried the day before and I really wasn’t in the mood. I was also in jeans and didn’t want to change. So my husband canceled dinner and we went to a place close to home for ham croquettes, my favorite, and to a movie. He was disappointed, but I loved the evening because we were together, after 28 years.”
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What’s the worst thing your partner ever did to you? Send your response to Cheryl Lavin, Tales From the Front, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill., 60611. Include day and evening phone numbers. Letters may be used in whole or in part and become property of the column.
