The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The world's most beautiful love stories are made timeless through the arts. So many classics have left their mark in film, literature, and music. This Valentine's Day, draw inspiration from the great cinema classics and immerse yourself in the roles of the actors. Think of Casablanca and the lovers played by Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman or Gone with the Wind with the unforgettable Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler. Revisit The Way We Were with Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford or An Officer and a Gentleman with the seductive Richard Gere and Debra Winger. Every period has been marked by romantic movies that have touched our hearts and etched famous lines of dialogue into our memories. The great love stories of literature, some adapted to the big screen, have been read over and over again down through the generations. Some sure-fire hits: Romeo and Juliette by William Shakespeare, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, The Lover by Marguerite Duras, and Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garc'a Mrquez. Great novels can sometimes seem intimidating to occasional readers, so for them there are poetry collections, Harlequin romances, or the romantic sagas written by the very successful Barbara Cartland. Just about every couple has appropriated a few key love songs. From the generation of Elvis Presley and the Beatles to such groups as the Commodores, Chicago, Cline Dion, and Bryan Adams, the choice of ballads is infinite. If you have musical talent, what could be more romantic than to offer your loved one your very own love song? It would be sure to become an instant hit in the privacy of your own home. However you've chosen to celebrate Valentine's Day this year, give it a perfect finishing touch by watching a romantic movie or listening to your favourite love song. Have a great Valentine's Day! Celebrating February 14 as a single person Valentine's Day can be a really depressing occasion for singles. While their married friends look forward to romance and chocolates, many singles agonize over the big day. But don't panic; if primary school children can give valentines to their teachers and classmates, singles can surely exchange small gifts as well. Visit gift stores, jewellers, and florists to buy a gift for a friend or for yourself. After all, why wait for someone else to think of you? Plus, when you buy yourself a gift it's always the right colour and size! Choose a restaurant or pub where you can dare to feel comfortable celebrating your single status. No more depressing Valentine's evenings at home, watching movies and stuffing yourself with pizza. Who knows Ñ it may even be the day you meet your kindred spirit! Are all your friends in relationships? Plan a mini-getaway with a grandparent who lives alone or with an uncle or aunt who is single as well. A breakfast at a country inn, a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, a walk in the woods Ñ there are many interesting activities suitable for one or two that will also help you forget the constraints of winter. It's even simpler if you don't have anyone in your entourage with whom to celebrate. While the restaurants are packed, the shopping centres will be empty. You'll have all kinds of time to renew your wardrobe and make the most of this season's sales. Treat yourself to a massage, pedicure, manicure, or a facial and rebuild your energy levels for the rest of winter. While you're being spoiled rotten, you'll quickly forget the reason for the celebration and soon the stores will have replaced all those Cupids with lots of cute little rabbits!
