For all you ladies.. in case you wondered... what follows is an email from my friend, Charlie, in response to my question: "What should I get Lathen for Christmas?"

THE SECRET TO A CONTENTED MAN

I am sure you do these things already. Surprise him, let him know how special he is--not when he has done something already for you.(put a love note in his pocket, glove box or underwear drawer) spray a kleenex with your perfume and leave it on his visor. Small gifts leading up to a big one. Does he have a bike? Trips are good, a picture of a landmark, beach, golden gate bridge, snowy Mountain, (I got a car once-but she stole it back). Find out what meant a lot to him as a child and he doesn't have now- sports star autograph, baseball cards, Theres a ton of things--the biggie for me was/is something that takes me back to a special time with her, a ring, bracelet,(my bike that's in Tampa) special picture (no not that kind) mine was us and the seals at fishermen wharf in SF. I know you could do this, a special poem that tells him something he has never heard from you, framed so he sees it regularly. Heres another killer--no ferris wheels available, you need a friend with a camera (get out of the gutter) - 13th and O at noon with a gazillion People scurrying about, as you are standing on the corner among the masses, you take him in you arms and give him the longest,deepest, softest kiss that starts at his lips and ends minutes later shaking his toes. Your friend snaps the photo with all the people in the background. People do it all the time in bars, doesn't mean anything- 13th and O, noon, witnesses--that's a statement 8 X 10 glossy and its recorded for posterity. Every time you and he look at it-zowie. Sorry got carried away, too much testosterone.
If all else fails high heels, a different perfume and topcoat--and that's all. ...[omitted]... I think the holidays make me weird---yea it has to do with a woman.