Boeing engineering manager by day, poet by night, that’s Dan DeVries.

Writing, he says, helps clear the mind and soothe the soul.

“It actually does,” said the 47-year-old Auburn man, a devoted husband and father of five. “I didn’t think it would, but it does. … A little creative writing makes me feel good. It makes me feel better. It makes me relax.”

And it’s a mode of expression he likes to share with others. DeVries’ entertaining tales can be found in the pages of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book series, his latest installment appearing in the recently-released “True Love … 101 Heartwarming and Humorous Stories about Dating, Romance, Love and Marriage.”

DeVries’ short story, “22 and Counting,” recounts the imaginative way he celebrated his 22nd wedding anniversary with wife Sheila and a few of their friends.

Not even Cupid could have come up with this caper.

Couples traditionally celebrate milestone anniversaries, be it silver or golden, with style. But the 22nd?

“It was totally my idea,” DeVries said of his wild concept. “It’s just that I am just enamored with my wife … and I wanted to do something special for her. And nobody does something special for their 22nd anniversary.”

It took considerable planning, but 5 1/2 years ago DeVries and his cast of friends pulled off a surprise party on that special day in June. His master stroke was to recite 22 poems to Sheila, describing his love for her. He worked well in advance, writing poems and coordinating with some of Sheila’s friends. Ultimately, he needed some help, so he decided to have 21 of her friends each give Sheila a customized poetry card and a rose at the party. DeVries then would recite the 22nd poem, a specially-crafted one, by heart.

Friends provided the venue, their Auburn house, and DeVries and Co. laid the trap. Right on cue, the party host called DeVries, asking him to return a book he had borrowed. In his wife’s presence, DeVries told him that they were heading out to dinner but could drop off the book on their way to the restaurant.

Sheila had no suspicion.

When they arrived at the house, the surprise was sprung.

“It was a complete shock,” Sheila said. “I was overwhelmed and absolutely speechless when I went out on the (back) deck to see all those friends.

“It was something unforgettable and nothing I had expected or imagined.”

Everbody did their part, presenting Sheila with a poem and a rose. DeVries then stood up and recited all 19 verses of a personally-crafted poem titled, “Pure Luck,” describing how he fortuitously met his wife.

He desperately wanted to get it right, and he did. Today, he still can recite the verses by rote. Sheila still cries when she rereads the poems.

There have been other side effects of DeVries’ latest, published work.

“I get more than one husband sending me reminders never to do it again,” DeVries said good-naturedly.

The DeVries family shares busy days of work and play. They enjoy fishing, camping, sports and spending time together. The couple also share writing ambitions. With her husband’s help, Sheila wrote a how-to book on keeping marriages on track, and she hopes a publisher will like it. Her husband continues to dabble in poetry.

With an open heart, the DeVries keep anniversaries and special days interesting and fun.

So how will they celebrate this Valentine’s Day? Even Sheila is at a loss.

“There’s nothing that I know of,” she said. “But I’m sure he has something up his sleeve.”

====

“Chicken Soup for the Soul: True Love” (Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, $14.95) is by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Amy Newmark. The book is available in most bookstores and online at www.chickensoup.com.