DEAR ABBY: Some months ago, you printed a letter from a reader who was disturbed that the spark was gone from her marriage. I asked my husband if the spark was gone from our 18-year marriage.
His response: "A spark lasts only a second. It lights a fire. When the flame burns down, we are left with the hottest part of the fire, the embers, which burn the longest and keep the fire alive."
I'm fortunate to have a great guy with a great mind. -- BETTY IN CAPE MAY, N.J.
DEAR BETTY: Your husband is wise indeed. He's right that the embers (mature love that outlasts the spark of infatuation) provide the glow that sustains committed relationships. The spark is only the beginning. Perhaps that wife should bask in the warmth of the embers instead of fretting over the missing "spark."