| Fourteenth anniversaries can be the most fun | | | | 4. Why not change the traditional item to |
| you'll ever have. If you've been married fourteen | | | | something green? Not color green, but |
| years, congratulations, and many more. Fourteen | | | | eco-friendly green? Go through the house |
| years together is more than an anniversary, it's a | | | | together, make a list of items you use often, and |
| statement of real commitment and care for each | | | | decide together to help the environment by |
| other. It's obvious to everyone at this point that | | | | replacing whatever you can with green items. It |
| you two have a special bond, that you're not just | | | | could be as exotic as the charging substance in |
| a passing thing. If you're looking for ways to | | | | your air conditioner or refrigerator, to the |
| recognize fourteen years, look no further. Here | | | | mundane, like your selection of toilet paper. Not |
| are seven ways to celebrate that major | | | | very romantic, perhaps, but committed in the long |
| milestone in your relationship. | | | | run, just like your marriage. |
| 1. The traditional item used to celebrate | | | | 5. Speaking of alternatives, the bloodstone is also |
| fourteenth wedding anniversaries is ivory. Due to | | | | a not so common gift item for fourteen years |
| the reprehensible treatment of elephants, and | | | | together. Bloodstone, also called heliotrope, is a |
| their abuse to find ivory, we avoid recommending | | | | greenish semi-precious stone laced with red |
| real ivory products to mark this date. Instead, we | | | | streaks. Ancient lore indicates that it got its color |
| propose changing the traditional gift item in a way | | | | from the drippings of Christ's blood as it fell from |
| that may actually assist these endangered, | | | | the cross on Calvary onto the green earth below. |
| magnificent animals. Why not a gift to the various | | | | Bloodstone is the symbol of justice, and as |
| organizations that seek elephant protection and | | | | bookends or decoration it makes a nice addition |
| assistance? There are groups which actively work | | | | to book shelves or a night stand with its dramatic |
| for animal protection, even for large animals | | | | coloration. It's also used in holistic practices to |
| worldwide. A check to them for as little as fifty | | | | increase blood flow, and energize. |
| dollars goes a long way in their efforts. | | | | 6. Fourteen days of love notes, and/or promises |
| 2. If you'd like to celebrate in an ivory kind of | | | | of simple exchange can be the best way to |
| way, there's a wide selection of artificial ivory | | | | celebrate fourteen years. Scribble a promise of a |
| products out there that resemble the real thing. | | | | back rub, foot massage or whole body pampering |
| There are cufflinks, earrings, tableware, | | | | every day for two weeks. Mix it up with special |
| knick-knacks and various other furnishings | | | | dinners, inexpensive dates, small hidden gift items |
| available. And they're all less expensive than the | | | | and various courtesies done just because. It really |
| real thing. And they all avoid abetting the ivory | | | | is the small stuff, after all. |
| trade. | | | | 7. The economy appears headed for a comeback, |
| 3. Another way to celebrate fourteen years, and | | | | so why not check into a really lavish celebration |
| to do something bigger than ourselves, is to help | | | | before prices creep back up? It may be time to |
| change the traditional symbol altogether. Why not | | | | give serious thought to that Hawaiian vacation, or |
| start with your own anniversary, and recognize it | | | | that trip to Disney, or a week exploring New |
| with a substance or article of your choosing? How | | | | York City and all of New England. |
| about jade, or moonstone, or even something | | | | Fourteen years of marriage is a big deal. It may |
| expensive like emeralds? Sure there's overlap to | | | | be an anniversary you're tempted to let come |
| other anniversaries, but there's always room for | | | | and go, but you don't have to. There are ways, |
| alteration, as fourteen years together has proven | | | | and plenty of reasons, to celebrate. Happy |
| to you. | | | | anniversary! |