Anniversary

[Dan the Man]

July 2nd will be our 17th anniversary. Not a significant number, but the first anniversary we'll actually be able to spend together since 2000. I want to make it really special. Anybody have any ideas?

 

[chaz345]

July 2nd will be our 17th anniversary. Not a significant number, but the first anniversary we'll actually be able to spend together since 2000. I want to make it really special. Anybody have any ideas?

Congratulations. I'm not great at suggestions for such things but maybe there's some ideas to be had in knowing why you've been apart on your anniversary for so many years.

 

[Fran75]

Dan congratulations on your upcoming anniversary, will celebrate our 16th on friday. Are/where you in the military, a marine? I'm just asking because you said you had not got to celebrate your anniversary since 2000 and you called yourself a jarhead on another post. If so welcome home and thank you, if not sorry for being nosey and assuming. Any way I think doing something or going somewhere that she may have missed out on would be good. We live in the country so a special day for me is when we go hang out in the big city all day, just the two of us. For us ladies when ever you guys take into account our favorite things, our favorite flower, food, place, whatever, it is very touching, it says to us that you know us and took the time to plan / purchase a surprise or gift that is specific to us. Whatever it is I am sure she will enjoy it because she gets to be with you.

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

July 2nd will be our 17th anniversary. Not a significant number, but the first anniversary we'll actually be able to spend together since 2000. I want to make it really special. Anybody have any ideas?

I think it's a very significant number. Do you mean, not milestone, like a 20th? In any case, congratulations. (Also to you, Fran.)

Is a weekend getaway or some other form of vacation together practical?

 

[Athene]

July 2nd will be our 17th anniversary. Not a significant number, but the first anniversary we'll actually be able to spend together since 2000. I want to make it really special. Anybody have any ideas?

I'd avoid ye olde faythfull movie and meal then. Over this side of the Atlantic, we can buy activity days - a day at a rally car driving, a day hot air ballooning etc. Do you have similar things over your side of the pond?

 

[Dan the Man]

Thank you for the congrats everyone. The reason we haven't spent an anniversary together in so long is because I've been deployed or on some kind of mission every year since 2000. I've done 4 tours to Iraq and 2 to Afghanistan and there really hasn't been much time in between. I think it's been harder on my wife and kids than it has been on me and I've still got about 3 more years until I retire from the Marine Corps and go on to whatever's next.

Congratulations. I'm not great at suggestions for such things but maybe there's some ideas to be had in knowing why you've been apart on your anniversary for so many years.

Thank you buddy.

Dan congratulations on your upcoming anniversary, will celebrate our 16th on friday. Are/where you in the military, a marine? I'm just asking because you said you had not got to celebrate your anniversary since 2000 and you called yourself a jarhead on another post. If so welcome home and thank you, if not sorry for being nosey and assuming. Any way I think doing something or going somewhere that she may have missed out on would be good. We live in the country so a special day for me is when we go hang out in the big city all day, just the two of us. For us ladies when ever you guys take into account our favorite things, our favorite flower, food, place, whatever, it is very touching, it says to us that you know us and took the time to plan / purchase a surprise or gift that is specific to us. Whatever it is I am sure she will enjoy it because she gets to be with you.

Thank you for the suggestions Fran, that really does help me out...and thanks for the welcome home.

I think it's a very significant number. Do you mean, not milestone, like a 20th? In any case, congratulations. (Also to you, Fran.)

Is a weekend getaway or some other form of vacation together practical?

Thank you. Yeah that's what I meant by significant. I know 17 years is a long time, and I feel like maybe there won't be that many more if things keep going the way they're going with all the time away. I was thinking of maybe a cruise to Mexico or something, but I don't know if I really have time to plan something like that. We live in the middle of the desert in Arizona. Kinda boring out here.

I'd avoid ye olde faythfull movie and meal then. Over this side of the Atlantic, we can buy activity days - a day at a rally car driving, a day hot air ballooning etc. Do you have similar things over your side of the pond?

No that sounds interesting though. Who do you buy activity days from?

 

[Athene]

Over here we have a chain-store called WH Smith, it sells books, magazines, stationary - that sort of thing. I've seen them sold there. You can probably buy them online.

 

[JaneFW]

You can get that kind of thing here too. It depends on which state you live in, but if you have a racetrack or whatever, you can do a search for that. I have been thinking about getting my h a day where he can go and drive some high power cars, because he would totally love to drive a luxury car. There is racingadventure.com for one but, like I said, search your state.

The best anniversary gift I had was on our 10th when my h had booked us into a very nice hotel overnight. He had ordered flowers to be delivered to the room, and we just relaxed. Very, very nice. Last year we spent the weekend at a small rental house in a town in the Hill Country. Also very nice. This year, because we are having a big trip overseas at Christmas and don't want to spend the big bucks, we are doing a house-swap with my IL's who live in the Dallas area, and we are going to stay at their place, while they stay at ours and 'baby'-sit, and we are going to go to the Southfork Ranch in Dallas! I have wanted to go there for years and my h has never been either.

It's good to choose something that is fun for both of you. If your wife hates fast cars, don't choose fast cars, lol. When I was going to get that for my h (still might), it would have been for his birthday or Father's Day, not as a joint present for us. I wouldn't even want to go to a racetrack - I would send our boys with him.

 

[c1ners]

Hi Dan. Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary. You know, I don't think it really matters how you spend it as long as you spend it holding each other and telling each other of your love. Give her all the love that you haven't been able to give her over the years due to your deployment. As long as she gives it in return it all should be good.

 

[citizenthom]

Of course only you know your wife, and my first reaction was "go on a trip" too; but it occurred to me after I read your post about your deployments that she may value having you at home--and I mean physically in your joint nest, with her--more than she would value a getaway. Does that make any sense? I know a "staycation" may be counter-intuitive, but that long without spending an anniversary in your own marital bed...there may be something special to that. Maybe sending the kids to spend some time with a relative for a couple days or something like that while you two play "house" together would be a good idea.

Again, you know better than I, and maybe the military wives here can tell me if I'm onto anything or not.

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

Of course only you know your wife, and my first reaction was "go on a trip" too; but it occurred to me after I read your post about your deployments that she may value having you at home--and I mean physically in your joint nest, with her--more than she would value a getaway. Does that make any sense? I know a "staycation" may be counter-intuitive, but that long without spending an anniversary in your own marital bed...there may be something special to that. Maybe sending the kids to spend some time with a relative for a couple days or something like that while you two play "house" together would be a good idea.

Again, you know better than I, and maybe the military wives here can tell me if I'm onto anything or not.

Actually, I think that's a great idea. Also known as a "hometown honeymoon."

 

[Dan the Man]

Thanks again everyone. You all have some great ideas here. I'm not the most romantic guy in the world, although I have intentions to be a good husband, it just never seems to come natural to me. Which is why I posted this here. Don't get me wrong, I love her more than anything but I'm horrible when it comes to knowing how to be romantic. I feel like you guys are probably right, although we both would probably enjoy a trip out of the area doing some fun things, maybe she would appreciate just spending a quiet and relaxing weekend closer to or at home without the kids. She deserves a lot better than what I've been able to give her the past 17 years. I really want to be able to convince her that even though I've spent so much time away from her that I have never stopped loving her and appreciating her so much. I just wish I knew how to do that.

 

[Athene]

You do know how to do it though, because you know your wife and I'm sure you know what she loves.

On Mothers day my husband tends to really work hard to make it a good day for me, this year I got breakfast in bed and it was scrambled eggs, smoked salmon on bagels - my most favourite breakfast in the world ever. We went out for the day and he'd packed a picnic - again of my favourite foods and he took me to a place that I'd always wanted to go but just hadn't got round to it yet. This is what made the day special, not the gifts though the bottle of Baileys was very welcome, it was the fact that he'd planned everything and that he'd had me in mind the whole time. I didn't have to tell him what I wanted, he knew because he knows me and he listens to me. That will make your wife feel loved and appreciated, knowing that you've took the time to think of what she would really love.

 

[Dan the Man]

You do know how to do it though, because you know your wife and I'm sure you know what she loves.

On Mothers day my husband tends to really work hard to make it a good day for me, this year I got breakfast in bed and it was scrambled eggs, smoked salmon on bagels - my most favourite breakfast in the world ever. We went out for the day and he'd packed a picnic - again of my favourite foods and he took me to a place that I'd always wanted to go but just hadn't got round to it yet. This is what made the day special, not the gifts though the bottle of Baileys was very welcome, it was the fact that he'd planned everything and that he'd had me in mind the whole time. I didn't have to tell him what I wanted, he knew because he knows me and he listens to me. That will make your wife feel loved and appreciated, knowing that you've took the time to think of what she would really love.

Thank you. I get what you're saying, but I just feel like if I did something like the picnic thing or something like that, my wife would feel like it wasn't really me because it's so out of the ordinary for who I am. I don't know if that really makes sense because I can't really explain it. I also feel like I don't really know her all that well anymore because of all the time we've spent apart. Maybe I'm worrying too much about it, but I would be lost if she left me. I want to make things right.

 

[Athene]

What did you do on your first date?

 

[Dan the Man]

What did you do on your first date?

We spent the day at the beach in Okinawa, Japan and had dinner afterwards. She was an American exchange student there and I was stationed there at the time.

 

[Dan the Man]

The most recent picture of us. I love her.

 

[Fran75]

You two are a beautiful couple. Does your wife have a mother, sister or friend that she may have shared her thoughts with over the years who could give you some clues on a place or activity that might be special to her.

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

To see a couple married 17 years, and still gushy in love.... *melt*



Mike and I have been married 2 1/2 years. I would love to celebrate a 17th and 20th and 25th anniversary with him, and beyond that, but it's questionable, simply because I'm not a physically healthy person. On our 25th anniversary, I would be 69 years old. I don't know... the grandmother whose health problems I inherited didn't live to be 69, and several closer relatives didn't make it that far either.

Then again, my other grandmother who just passed in May was 93, so we'll see what God has in store.

 

[lindseyw05]

Congrats Dan!...and welcome home I have to agree that no matter what it is you decide to do, your wife will be happy b/c she gets to spend it with you.