Thoughts: I had a relationship with a very smart, bright, fully aware of her surroundings and apparently quite successful business lady, way above the average success for a female at that time. While the relationship was doomed from the beginning, the brief period of time that I was able to spent with her was double edged. On the one hand I was falling madly in love for her and I can only guess that she had some interest in me, but I was thinking of her most of the time. She had a birthday coming up and I was trying to think of something unique that would make a mark; a memory if you will, that she would remember throughout her life. I wanted to give her a memory. As I said, the relationship was doomed from the beginning, we both knew it; but I wanted to do something as a way of saying "Thanks for the momentary touching of Souls…." So I searched and searched for days, trying to find something that would be relative and convey the desired meaning. I found it, a Pink Quartz Crystal. Relatively Rare and Expensive for me at the time, it was perfect. It had additional meaning in that at the time, I was broke, paying child support and going through the usual continuing 10 year old divorce harassings and was on limited funds. I spent the money that was going to do something special with the children for the following weekend and purchased the crystal. I’m not proud of my analytical behavior but noted that it was what I did. I felt that strongly in the idea. Without great fan fare I presented the gift to her and felt that it was truly received and convinced that it had accomplished the idea. Later during the year, my birthday was coming up, and usually I tend to keep it to my self. She, using the direct approach, didn’t give me a way to side step the issue and I reluctantly divulged the secret of a lifetime, I told her…! I had thought that this might be intriguing in that she had the creativity, the emotions, and certainly the wherewithal to create a memorable birthday gift in return. I didn’t think anymore of it and left it to her own devices. We had our normal scheduled meeting set up, near my B-day, and I was wondering if she was just being surprisingly secretive about it or…?? At our meeting, she was late, which was the norm, and was carrying a shopping bag from one of the local stores. I figured she had done a little shopping before the meeting for herself. She then, handed me the bag and then wished me a happy birthday… Well since it is my nature to second guess things, I was stumped as to what the gift was. I opened it, and it turned out to be a ball point pen. Not the expensive ones or moderately expensive like Cross or something like that, but maybe a few steps above a Bic pen. The sales slip was still inside the bag. I wasn’t sure how to respond except that the ole tape of "… it’s the thought that counts!" kept ringing in my ear. This brings us back to the Wooden boxes. Although it is the thought that counts, how do you count the Thoughts. Obviously, she had forgotten about my B-Day and at the last minute on the way over, picked up something that she could relate to that I might relate to. "A lucky pen for all your deals." As I was in real estate then. Yesss, it did have some meaning, and if she were a poor, inexperienced college student then I would have felt a little better, but she put about as much feeling , creativity and emotions in the whole process as the stamp machinist did in making the Laser Beamed Boxes…. The idea of giving was accomplished. Of giving something meaningful was dubious. The thoughts behind it was negligible. The one thought, madly rushing through the store, thinking "..Oops!.. it’s his birthday, I forgot; ohh there’s something, I’ll get that and then make up some feeling behind it…" was there. If she had forgotten, which we all do from time to time, a simple explanation or postponement would have worked. She didn’t and I’m sure to this day felt fine about the whole thing.

Conclusion: All this to say, that although people react differently, respond differently and think differently, it’s does come down to the Basic instinct of thoughts. How ‘many’ thoughts (if they can be broken down to singles.) does it take for the wood carver to create his work of Art. How many thoughts does it take for the Production line workman to stamp out his (or the companies) piece of art. How many thoughts did it take for me to come up with the Pink Crystal and how many thoughts did it take her to find the pen. It’s the amount of thinking about the person that solidifies a good, strong relationship. The relationship is built upon thoughts…. About the other person. I would want a relationship that the person is in my mind all the time. I would think about her, for her, and with her all the time. I want to, not just touch her soul, but to be in her soul as I would want her to be in mine. It’s the thoughts that make or break a relationship. …. And it applies to any relationship, friends, business, professional. They all are built on Thoughts of the other party.. Doesn’t have to be romantic, but has to be caring, concerned, and continuing. "What can I do for the other person that would make us both happy…." Even if it is to leave them alone…. The wood carver putting in his thoughts of emotion - love, pride, and creative spirit or the production line attendant stamping out his little wooden boxes…..Sooooo the saying "….it’s the thought that counts" needs to be amended by the need to "…count the thoughts" No Laser-Beamed Boxes for me, Thank You very much…..heheheheh