mine had to be the handmade jewerly box made for me, the time and effort he took to make the box ment a lot to me, then he planted a tree in my yard, hes gone but the tree is growing. loved that guy! but it was time to move on.

You are so right Eye! That is one of the reasons it is so hard to find men to date! Ending relationships always leave wounds - on both sides, but you can't carry that forward and project it onto a new relationship and so many people bring the history of the old into the new - it doesn't work.

eye

never knew her----he is my friend--and i see how it sent him for a loop--he is still at the i don't trust stage
and not so much others but his own judgement about others

sometimes we do things without thinking of the consequences on others

cat

not saying clogg up my email or call me all day--because i will feel smothered--butttt it is nice once in awhile to get the card or phone call--especially if your having a bad day--takes you out of the moment
and yes most of all--the hugs and kisses when i get home are the best

I'm with you Chessire, I am not into the "special gifts" or flashy expressions on Valentines Day, etc. Just call me when you have a special thought about me to let me know you were thinking about me, but don't call me all day every day - I work too and am very busy at work. When I get home, kiss me and snuggle with me, we've both had a long day, let's just relax together. When the weather is nice, lets ride together and enjoy each other's company. That is all I need.

seem me first:

I agree with what you said, and as to your frined, well, we have a word for that around here. It begins with "HO" and ends with "OAR."

gree-nide witch:

High fives and how very right you are.

Want to split the cost of a woodchipper?

Smiley Cat:

I didn't do any of THAT kinda stuff as I'm not the type of guy that most women would consider as romantic or smothering. I never thought to send flowers but I did show her how I felt in other ways. I was just open, honest, and showed her respect. I didn't get the same thing in return though. So, screw it. And yes, it wasn't me, it was her. Failed relationships are like wounds: it hurts, you bleed, and eventualy it heals and leaves you with a scar, but we can't spend the rest of our lives dwelling on the scars, and we have to realize that what we mourn isn't the loss of what it WAS, but the loss of what we WANTED it to be. We learn and we grow and we get on with enjoying life, and we try to avoid stepping in the same pile of dog crap again.

eye

for some it isn't what we do--it is what we have
i dated one guy who thought he would never be good enough for me!!!!!!!! not so
i have a male friend who was totally in love with and her with him--butttttt she was more interested in the almighty $$$$$$$$ and left the love of her life for someone in Tx with lots of $$$$$
soooooooo you may have absolutely nothing to do with it
i have learned that it is who you are not what you have that is all important!!!!!!!!

Eye,

There comes a time when you have to just accept the fact that what you did/didn't do isn't the point. You can give all you got but you have to accept that it wasn't YOU. There are some people in this world no mater how you feel about them, they aren't ever going to apprciate you or what you bring to the table. It just isn't meant to be. Trust me on this one, I'm dealing with the same emotions you are. It ain't easy, but the strong ones like us WILL get through it and be better people for it. Even though it feels like wading through a river of sh*t.

Damn Eye... you mean to tell me that sending the stupid email cards and clogging up her email with junk (and yours) didn't do it for ya? Oh, and the damn flowers...were they dead by the time she got them? (The last bunch of flowers sent to me got lost... and I got them 3 months later.... ugh let me tell ya... it was a nasty surprise.) Gee I guess I am not the pruely romantic kind... I'm just happy that ya call me during the day and tell me that you are thinking of me. But Don't call me when you know I'm working, or more than once a day with that stuff... I'll feel like your checking up on me. When ya get home... give me a hug and a kiss... invite me to watch ya get undressed from your day... the rest will happen naturally... I would rather you showed me you cared by being around... and being there cheerfully.
Oh and the doggy crap on the bottom of your boot??? Well believe me, if there is any there when you walk through MY door, it will have come from the outside, and your busted buddy... watch where ya step...
Chessie
See me... this was not a bust on you... I just gave my feelings on things like that, I know lots of people who like all the romantic stuff, but for me... it makes me feel closed in... unable to breath without fear of being watched for any stupid transgression he may have thought he's seen. Been there, done that, and it sucked...

Grnidwitch and seemme1st:

Bit I diddddddd all that stuff. Or most of it anyway. Okay, I did some of it.

Smiley Cat:

Nope, no bitterness here. Not much anyway. It's more of a feeling of chagrin. It's rather like that feeling you get when you step in dog crap and don't know it until you track it half way across the clean carpet, you know? Quite some time ago there was a little voice that I didn't listen to telling me to check my boots, but I kept just walking. Oh well, flash a wry smile and move on.

Nodey...you sure can hon.

Ok Eue, you asked for it.... Just be there for the lady. Be honest and caring in all that you do. Open your heart as much as you can and let her know that she can do the same. Appreciate the small things and don't worry about what you don't have, take care of what you do.

eye
i can't tell you what not to do
but what to do
be real
be honest
i am a toucher--love to cuddle
send me the little email cards to let me now that you are thinking of me throughout the day--and yes i will do the same
show me the same respect that i will show you
i do send flowers to the men in my life--for no reason
buy little gifts--because they are special and whatever it was i saw reminded me of them--the touch of their skin under my finger tips

Eye_M,
LOL I think most of us already knew that...
It was asked in humor...
Bitter??? I wouldn't know... but it does sound honest. I liked the humor in which you wrote about the disapointment you experienced... frankly, if you have humor... is there really any room for a lot bitterness? Not in my life... nor in yours I would bet. To have gotten to the point that you can insert humor, tells me that you have gotten over it, but are not stupid enough to fall for the lies again. Period.
Honesty wins every time!

Nodey:

Deal! A nose hair trimmer would give me many, many.....MANY more hours of fun then a woodchipper.

Chessire Cat:

"Tell us ladies what not to do in order to get that present from ya!"

Easy, just be honest, even if it hurts. Deceitfull little worms who are using oxygen that a perfectly good human being could be breathing have no place in my life. Also, know yourself and like who you are. (Hmmm...did that sound bitter?)

Awwww..Man...I love you Char! Can i have a big ole smooch too????