How emotional is your husband?

I had a really weird experience with my husband tonight and I am just wondering if anyone else's husband get this emotional. Let me preface this story by saying that my husband works for the Nassau County Police Department as an AMT. He is a tough guy who has had to deal with all manner of ugly things in his job from people half dead from car accidents to wackos who were trying to kill themselves and anyone who got in their way. He has been in extremely difficult situations and has received citations for his bravery. Anyway you get the idea. He has had to harden himself in order to do his job correctly. Even though he has worked primarily at a desk job for the last 5 years he still has to be able to handle an emergency if one comes his way. This is a man who I have seen cry only twice in 7 years and one of those times was on our wedding day.

Well tonight he is wandering around the house looking completely morose and dejected. At the dinner table I asked him what was wrong, since he is a pretty smiley type of guy. All of sudden he points out to the back door and says 'Out there' and starts crying!!!! I was stunned. I jump up from the table and look outside and see nothing different. So I ask him what he means. Through his tears he says 'My truck. I'm going to miss it. It has so many memories.'

Now you need to know that this truck is 14 years old, both the front and rear bumpers are rusted and falling off, it has no a/c or power steering (never did have either) and in the last 2 weeks has been in the shop more than out!!!
It still needs a new carbuerator and a bunch of other work and the check engine light is on all of the time. Because the repairs were costing far more than the truck is worth we sat down last week and decided that it was time to get rid of it and get something new. Gene has to be at work regardless of weather conditions so we decided to go with something with 4 wheel drive. We bought a Mazda Tribute, which we are supposed to be picking up Thursday, which he was all excited about on Tuesday!!! Now all of sudden he decides tonight that he cannot part with his old truck (he has had it since it was new) and he is honestly and truly upset about this!!
I mean this thing is ready to go to the great junkyard in the sky and he just won't let go.

So I offered to cancel the new SUV(the dealer would have hated me) and keep the truck. Of course that would mean losing the deposit on the SUV as well as the money for a few extras that we had put in, but I was willing to do it if it would make my hubby happy. But now it means wasting money so he doesn't want to cancel. But he is still weepy over the truck. Finally I suggest to him that we should just keep the truck for a little while more and that way he will be able to let it go a little at a time. Ahhhhhh. A big smile from my hubby. So I call the insurance company and have them put the truck back on the policy (minus comp and collision coverage) and now my husband is the happiest man on earth!!!

Who would have thought that a stupid little pickup truck could mean so much????? Is anyone else's husband like this or is mine just suffering a mid-life crisis??

Re: How emotional is your husband?

I think it's a sweet story. It's amazing how men can be about cars.

I was actually weepy when we traded in old car for a new one.

Re: How emotional is your husband?

men are so emotional about cars. its like a second girlfriend or something.

Re: How emotional is your husband?

Awwww Wendy that is sooo sweet!! You have said that Gene is a pack rat and he hates to let go of it. I think you are doing the right thing!! Give him time to get used to his new car (his new friend) and maybe when he sees the new car is not a bad thing he might be able to let go of the old truck a little easier!

Re: How emotional is your husband?

I agree with Jamie ... give him time. I'm sure he has many memories and stories from that truck - it's hard to part with something that you've had for so long. I can picture me being like that, especially now when I think of having to get rid of my car before TTC and that's a few years away ... .
I can't picture Rob crying ... he really isn't that emotional, but I don't know.

Re: How emotional is your husband?

DH surprises me when he gets emotional. He gets emotional about things I wouldn't expect him too. He definitely gets attached to his car. He recently sold his 1st car that he bought for himself right after college to my younger brother. The car is like 10 years old but in good shape but was small and his sister was selling he slightly bigger car so we bought that. He still talks about it and always says how he misses it and when we see it - he just stands there and stares at it. I think he is happy that it is still in the family.

Re: How emotional is your husband?

That's so sweet - I mean, sad that he's upset about the car but sweet that he shows you!

DH is emotional rarely but maybe more than the avg guy.
I remember being very worried about him on 9/11 - he was in the city and saw the buildings on fire, saw everything that happened and I'm sorry, that would have scarred me for life. He was very upset for a few wks but didn't really communicate his feelings or cry or anything. Meanwhile, I was a complete mess - crying non stop, so incredibly depressed, I wasn't even there!

Men show their emotions differently, and some transfer their feelings onto something else, like the car, and then the spouse is left to wonder what's going on?! LOL I'm not saying he wasn't attached to the car, but maybe it's not actually the physical car, but what the car represents to him? What it reminds him of?

Ok, I'm rambling - my degree in psychology is showing through!

Re: How emotional is your husband?

Your husband must be a very sweet and sentimental man, even if he doesn't always show it.

I can understand about the car thing though. The first car I ever bought on my own is still sitting in my driveway, because I can't part with it. We hardly ever use it, but I know she's there, and that makes me happy.

Re: How emotional is your husband?

Thanks ladies. He really is a sweet guy and I do understand why he feels the way he does. I guess I was just so surprised to discover that he was that attached!

As Jamie mentioned he is a huge packrat (never wants to let go of anything) so I should have known!!

He is completely happy today and can't wait to get the new car. And men talk about women!! I figure it will take a few months of having an extra car around to get in the way and he will let go. Plus if he is driving his beloved truck I get to drive the new car!!

Re: How emotional is your husband?

My husband is very emotional. About a year after we started dating, I was cleaning his apartment and I found a box. In the box...he had all the cards I had ever given him, the movie stubs to the first movie we ever saw together, the cork to the first bottle of wine we drank together, the receipt to the first dinner we had together and all these other 'first' items we shared together. I thought this was so sweet and I never expected him to be like this.

Re: How emotional is your husband?

Roger is emotional about a topic of anyting he feels strongly about but nothing like a car or anything physical. When it comes to right and wrong and people being treated fairly. He gets emotional and start speaking loudly and you would think he was in a fight, but when he feels strongly about a topic he can get going.

Your hubbby will make new memories in his new vehicle.