"Love Ya" vs. "Love You"

This is for all the women out there who say that men are not "sentimental." We just like to show it in more subtle ways. (My "more subtle" is relative to women's expression of sentimentality -- AKA "Why don't you sit down and let me tell you how much everything means to me.")

This post is inspired by a recent email I received from my father-in-law, in which he signed it "Love ya, Dad." Notice two things here: the appearance of the words "Love ya," and the word "Dad."

Let's Quentin Tarantino this story and start from the beginning, now that I've given you the end.

His emails didn't always sound like this (especially the interlude shortly after I told him I was taking his daughter away, changing her name, and relocating her three hours away).

There was a progression involved, and I followed it every step of the way. His beginning emails were always signed "Bob the Builder" (no, that is not my father-in-law's name [how cool would that be!?]. That's just my best intrepretation of being "safe" on the internet -- haha). However, even though it started out formally enough, it has evolved into what it is today: "Love ya, Dad" -- a double whammy!

As you may have noticed, I like to consider myself a shade-tree pyschologist. *Ahem* For all those who didn't grow up in a redneck family, allow me to explain. A shade-tree mechanic is a wanna-be mechanic who does all his/her work under the shade of a tree. Hence, a shade-tree pyschologist is one like myself, diagnosing the behavior of cats and humans with vigorous enthusiasm.

I would now like to share one of my extremely professional observations. For men, there is a huge difference between love ya and love you (for women, the word "love" seems to become appropriate shortly after learning someone's name).

A scale exists with men, and it goes something like this:

Sup? I can't remember your name.
See Ya Later I couldn't borrow flour from you, but you seem cool.
See Ya Later, Man Thanks for the flour.
Love Ya It just took me three hours of contemplation to say that, you better appreciate it.
Love You Usually comes after the non-rejection of the "Love Ya" phase. Congratulations, you are now part of .0001% of the population in their lives.

The scale may be a little rough around the edges, but I suspect it is pretty similar for each man out there. (The scale is copyrighted from here on out; I don't want its professionalism to be jeopardized by any third-person parties.)

So ladies, the next time your man comments on the flowers in the yard or the smell of a particular candle, know it for what it is: the deep expression of a love unparalleled by anything else in their lives. (Yes, it's that serious ... lol).

That reminds me ... I need to go comment on the pancakes I had this morning (it just might give me some pancakes for tomorrow!)

See Ya Later,
Schafner