Bringing your sweetheart breakfast in bed is a romantic gesture sure to score what in our house are called Frequent Foreplay Miles. But, I think it’s a little weird. You don’t sleep on your kitchen table so why would you eat in bed? Maybe I’m too practical. Or, maybe I’m spoiled by having a husband who’s the chief egg-scrambler. Dale is a fabulous cook. His serving style, however, is reminiscent of Mel’s Diner. A boudoir tray would indeed be an appreciated style change. A more welcome change -- given my attitude about breakfast in bed -- would be dining room and table linens in lieu of kitchen nook and plastic place mats. Still, I have to admit that one of my favorite memories involves breakfast in bed.

It was 1998. Dale and I spent a month traveling Peru. After 30 days of local cuisine -- including Guinea Pig -- served on hikes in the Andes, at camps in the rain forest, and on islands in Lake Titicaca, we would have sold our souls for a hot dog. Our last day was spent in the capital city of Lima. After checking into the hotel, we wandered aimlessly down one street or another. Maybe it was divine intervention, maybe it was just dumb luck, but as we turned a corner, there in the distance glowed the neon sign of a TGIF. Like brood mares who’ve caught sight of the barn, we headed straight for buffalo wings, cheese burgers, and Budweiser. It was divine. We thought it couldn’t get any better. We were wrong.

Just up the street was a Dunkin’ Donuts. The proprietor had locked the door and was cleaning up when he saw us peering through the window, looking like hungry orphans despite having gorged ourselves at TGIF. Taking pity, that nice man unlocked the door and sold us a dozen assorted donuts.

The next morning we propped ourselves up in bed, flipped open the donut box, and popped the cork on a bottle of champagne we’d been saving to celebrate our time in Peru. We sipped champagne from plastic hotel glasses and ate the entire dozen donuts before snuggling back under the covers for -- well, you know.

Moments like our Peruvian breakfast in bed become treasured memories that can be relived over and over again. They form the glue that binds a couple. While some memories are more momentous than others, shared experiences need not be monumental to be precious. The afternoon hike when you rested under a tree and, holding hands, quietly enjoyed the view, or the day the rose bushes, now fully matured, were first planted can be as lovingly remembered as the day your child took his first step.

Some moments may be more precious to one than the other. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that those moments can be revisited as a reminder of what’s been and a promise of what’s to come. When one or both partners feel discouraged or the relationship is challenged, memories are the balm that soothes. The promise of more such memories are the incentive to move forward.

Like all couples, Dale and I have had our ups and downs. Getting through the down times is a lot easier when we can say, “Hey, remember when . . .”

Please visit my website at www.FrequentForeplayMiles.com