By Kathy Megyeri
Book: “The 50 Most Romantic Things Ever Done,” by Dini Von Mueffling
During this month when we remember the romantic things we’ve done for love throughout our lives, it’s a joy to read these 50 stories of what historical figures, celebrities and ordinary people have done to celebrate their loved ones. Author Dini Von Mueffling has written for major publications and produced for TV news but now, she devotes her efforts to an AIDS organization in New York called Love Heals. In this story compendium, these heartwarming, surprising and original tales of love will bring back memories and charm you.
For example, when Clark Gable took Carole Lombard to a Hollywood Valentine’s Day party, he picked her up in a beat-up Model T with hearts painted all over it. They were happily wed when WWII broke out and in January of 1942, she signed autographs for 12 hours in Indianapolis to encourage Americans to buy war bonds. But on the way home, her plane crashed outside Las Vegas and she died. Although Gable married twice more, he’s buried next to Lombard.
Related: Book Review: What Jackie Taught Us
The need to do romantic things also includes English royalty. In 1936, Prince Edward abdicated the throne of England to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. They stayed together for 35 years until he died in 1972. She died 14 years later in Paris and her jewels were auctioned off at Sotheby’s for $50 million, all of which benefited AIDS research.
In 1631, Emperor Shah Jahay built the Taj Mahal in Agra, India to honor his second wife who died giving birth to their fourteenth child. It took 20,000 men over 22 years to complete as the precious stones had to be carved into shapes of flowers and set in white marble because in Islam, flowers were symbols of the kingdom of God. The building and grounds represent the paradise of life after death and the four canals symbolize the Gardens of Paradise in the Koran.
Other love stories include those of Nicholas, the last Tsar of Russia and Alexandra; Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas in Paris in the 1920s; Humphrey Bogart (44 years old) and Lauren Bacall (19); John Lennon and Yoko Ono; George Burns and Gracie Allen; Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn; Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner; Anthony and Cleopatra; Charlie Chaplin and Oona O’Neill, daughter of playwright Eugene O’Neill; playright Dashiell Hammett and Lillian Hellman; artist Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera; and probably the most moving is the story of Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow. When he died at 72 of lymphatic cancer in Hawaii, his last words were to Anne.
Such stories will help you celebrate Valentine’s Day with new appreciation for what we’ve all done for love.
