A friend mentioned that she and her husband just celebrated their twentieth anniversary. Well, maybe celebrate is a strong word. They had a nice dinner. Back on their fifteenth they had spoken about big plans for their twentieth, but did not do the math. Five years later they have two girls in college. That precludes spending money on a trip to Aruba. Maybe on their twenty-fifth they will manage to get away.

But she did have a surprise.

"I have a present for you. It may actually be the biggest thing I have ever given you," she said with some ceremony. Her husband swallowed. Probably she had out gifted him.

"But we aren't gift people," he said. The inevitability of failure felt like an anchor. 

Her smile grew wider. She had this. 

"My gift to you is to throw out the past. No more bringing it up. It's over."

He was quiet. Did she mean it? No more hurling old issues like bricks? This could be epic. 

She stayed true to her promise, although it admittedly has only been ten days. For his part, he announced his intention to appreciate her more. With touch. Smiles. Expressions of gratitude. 

She likes it so far. 

And they can still save up for 2022.