My husband grew up as a foster child, moving from one home to another. Even though the families received money for new clothes for him and school supplies, most used the money for their own children and gave my husband hand me downs. (I can remember watching him at his high school graduation, wearing a pair of hand me down sandals because he had no clean shoes  of his own.)

The last foster family he lived with would not allow him to purchase his senior yearbook. I knew having this would mean a lot to him, since over the years he had run into classmates he no longer remembered or even knew their names. 

I contacted the high school to see if they might have an extra year book or know of someone who did. Well, since they had none, they put me in touch with the person who was the advisor of the book at the time my husband graduated. I gave her a call and told her my story. She said would help me. 

This very sweet woman gave me her copy to give my husband, her yearbook which was personally signed by every member of the senior class.

I can not tell you how much this gift meant to my husband and to me, since we don't have ANY photos of my husband's childhood!

So, my suggestion would be to find something in your lover's past that can make a connection to them today, whether it's a favorite childhood book, record or cd, or even long forgotten toy.