State of the Union

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LUV YA. HUG ME

The New England Confectionary Company, better known as Necco, has been the major producer of those tiny, pastel-colored candy conversation hearts since 1902. In one year they make about 8 billion sweet hearts—and sell most of them around Valentine's Day. The St. Paul Pioneer Press explains that the language of love has been continually changing. For example, "Solid" from the 40s and "Dig Me" from the 60s have been deemed obsolete. But on the brink of the 21st century, it's still a sweet way to tell the one you love how you really feel: Honey Bun. All Mine. Be True. Be Mine.

The Kissing Disease

What's in a kiss? Bacteria, that's what. And according to Health magazine, spouses could be sharing gum disease, via saliva, while they're sharing a satisfying lip lock. Periodontists at the University of Southern California discovered that disease-free spouses of those with gum-disease were much more likely to become infected themselves.

Not that you should give up kissing. Vigilant brushing and flossing and dental check-ups twice a year can keep your smooching bacteria-resistant. So brush, floss and pucker up!

Spring Fever

It's a long, wintry haul from the crazed-but-wonderful holidays to the first signs of spring. No wonder February and March find many of us deep in the gloomies. Here are some ways you can spark up the seasonal slump.

Find something to celebrate. Make a really big deal of Valentine's Day. If you don't have an anniversary coming up, find one--like the anniversary of your first date, or of your first kiss.

Bring in spring. Go buy some potted tulips and put them where you'll see them every day.

Laugh your head off. Create a Favorite Comedy Weekend. Each of you pick your favorite funny movie; then rent them both. Watch one on Friday night, the other on Saturday night.

Invite the neighbors over. Winter prevents the impromptu neighborhood fellowship that comes with yard work and kids playing outside. So make it potluck at your house and rediscover what your neighbors look like underneath their scarves and hats.

The Facts of Married Life

Lisa Welchel grew up on national TV. For nine years on "The Facts of Life," she portrayed Blair Warner, a rich, pampered, boarding-school student maturing past a childish self-centeredness. But Lisa has moved on to what she calls her "ultimate calling." Ten years ago she married Steve Cauble, a pastor at her church in Van Nuys, California, and today she's busily home-schooling their son, Tucker (age nine), and daughters, Haven and Clancey (seven and six).

Does she regret leaving acting behind? "To me it wasn't walking away from a great thing to a lesser thing," says Lisa. "It was walking away from a great thing to a better thing. So it wasn't hard. I was thankful that I could experience a wonderful career and then go from that to marrying a wonderful husband and having great children and raising a family."

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Originally published in: Marriage Partnership, 1999, Spring

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