Allison Castillo: If absence makes the heart grow fonder, then according to the actually named center for the study of long distance relationships, 14 million Americans are head over heels. As reported by yourtango.com, the growing number of long distance relationships or LDRs can be attributed to several factors. Seetha Narayan, author of the Complete Idiots Guide to long distance relationships, sites changes in the way people work. With more women working and both numbers of a couple investing years in their careers, people feel the need to follow through even if it means geographical separation. Craig Goldner, who heads the Center for the Study of LDRs point out that the world is a smaller place than it used to be. People no longer marry the boy next door. Now, they attend international conferences and meet online. So how do you sustain an LDR? By working to maintain something experts refer to as interrelatedness, little did you know that that mind did numbingly boring story your partner told you yesterday about his turkey sandwich is actually a key component to intimacy. And that’s why I’m publishing the Complete Idiots Guide to small talk. Oh my gosh! I didn’t know your aunt s from Albany. What a coincidence. Wow! So, that was a good turkey sandwich yesterday, right?