What should I get my wife for our anniversary? A free calendar from work contained a list of anniversary gifts, listed by the length of the marriage. According to the calendar's list, the traditional gift was paper, while the more recent gift indicated was clocks. Since I am something of a traditionalist, does that mean I should get a paper clock for my wife?

Should you get china, cotton, or leather next year? There just doesn't seem to be any good answer. Your florist will be glad to suggest a dozen long-stemmed roses for your anniversary, since those cost him $1 to grow and sell for $150.

I noticed a problem with the wedding gift suggestions on my trusty calendar. Every year from one to fifteen had a theme, but there was a sudden jump to the 20 year mark. So, what on earth do you do when you've been married 19 years and don't want to be "practical" with some boring gift that says the magic in the marriage is all over?

A "practical gift" is one that hardly seems worth gift wrapping, like a light bulb or a dust mop. You will never get a romantic embrace after giving a practical gift. However, such gifts let your wife know that you know that your home needs and are willing to take the time and effort to get it yourself rather than add to her duties.

Free sticky notes available at your office are always, if you're out of money and time, a somewhat clever product to make "love coupons" out of. They can then be used to give yourself one free back rub or night off doing the dishes, among other things, from your partner. This is the romantic equivalent to the "practical gift", and shows you put at least some thought into her gift, rather than grabbing the cutest looking thing from a department store.

I hope this has given you a couple of ideas of what to do for your sweetheart. I guess the sky's the limit for me, but in the end I think I know what sort of anniversary gifts my wife will be getting.