by Francesca Di Meglio

My cousin Anna, Zia Concettina's oldest daughter, started her love affair with her husband Nino, a native of Bari in Italy, in a rather unconventional way. She argued with him. The story began when Zia Concettina, playing cupid, told Anna that there was a handsome Italian man working at our bread store of choice. Anna had to pick up a couple of loaves, and she thought she might pick up a hunky piece of man, too. When Anna, who was in her early twenties at the time, and her mother walked into the store, there was a middle-aged man with a slight bulge in the belly behind the counter. Was this supposed to be Mr.Wonderful?

Disappointed and annoyed with her mamma, Anna excused herself and walked back outside to her car, which she had parked in the lone spot behind the salumeria. After a few minutes, the obviously annoyed store owner arrived and shouted at her to get her car out of his spot. When all the blood rushed to her head and she blew like Vesuvius, her mom showed up and introduced her to her latest sparring partner. "This-a is-a da nice-a young-a man-a, I wanna you to-a meeta." Soon after, Anna moved her car -- with her signature grimace -- and broke down and took his phone number.

Seventeen years and two sons later, Nino and Anna still make the love/hate thing work for them. He calls her a turkey (English is his second language). She calls him a weirdo. Then, they laugh. And so do we.

We should all be lucky enough to have the kind of passion that is tempered by humor. A single man who doesn't take himself so seriously is one step closer to being labeled husband material. But ladies, we have to lighten up a bit ourselves, too. Even if the name calling typical of Anna and Nino isn't your style, there are other ways to be playful with one another -- from funny nicknames to unexpected pats on the backside. What is important is that you develop a rapport that is conducive to silliness and smiles. There is, in fact, only one thing you have to do to build such a bond: Open yourself up to the possibility of being a little ridiculous with another person. That is a tall task for most adults, but laughing is like potato chips: Once you pop, you can't stop.

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