As a member of Princess Cruise’s Romance Department, today I helped crown father of four and minister Phil Roberts, of Lexington, KY as the “Greatest Romantic” contest winner. The Romance Department at Princess, also including intimacy expert, Dr. Ruth Westheimer; ABC’s original “Bachelor,” Alex Michel; actor Gavin MacLeod (he played Captain Stubing on “The Love Boat) and destination wedding expert Lisa Light, nominated the five most romantic videos from the more than one hundred videos submitted in the contest.  More than eight thousand members of the public then selected Mr. Roberts in a final vote.  

 Check out his winning video.  It’s a story, in the form of a poem recited by his three-year-old daughter, about an everyday man who understands how to sweep a woman off her feet in a lovingly spectacular manner.  While he certainly knows how to pull off a perfect wedding proposal, I nominated Roberts because his romantic nature has stood the test of both time and tragedy in his ten-year relationship. That’s the kind of romance that makes me swoon.

Most of our love lives are not the makings of a major motion pictures, nor are they fodder for a romance novel.  They are ordinary, sometimes difficult, often surprising and occasionally hilarious moments pieced lovingly together by acts of generosity, compassion, insight, kindness and inspiration.  While larger-than-life romantic extravaganzas are the memorable love stories many of us will one day pass on to our children, everyday romance is the glue that keeps a couple together. 

What is everyday romance?  Whatever you and your partner need it to be.  Sometimes romance is a smile to break through a relationship’s momentary challenges that might otherwise get us all hung up.  It’s an unexpected gift when there is no occasion.  It’s a public pledge of love, made to a group of people, as in: “This is the woman I love.” It’s an extra few moments in bed, a longer-than-usual kiss goodbye or a slightly seductive note slipped into his briefcase.

Whether you are dating or happily taken, small acts of romance should be part of your everyday life.  Check out Susan Mernit’s blog, Finding Acts of Love that Really Matter.  Along with romantic poems you can read to your love and funny DVD’s the two of you can enjoy together, she shares romantic ideas that can help make all of us great romantics, not just on Valentine’s Day, but every day.  

Even romance experts have to remember to practice romance in their own love lives, so I’m off to buy a gift for no particular reason.

Warm, romantic fuzzies to everyone,

Trish McDermott, VP of Love at Engage