Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.

I just wanted to thank everyone for their comments on my last entry. I was surprised by all the positive reactions. I am glad there are still women out there who feel the same as me. And it is especially interesting to hear from the men around here. Most of my readers seem to be females. So a very special merci to all of you.

I am not quite ready to write something new. It takes me a long time to produce an entry I feel is worth posting. I have some topics in mind I want to write about, but it's not quite coming together yet. Bear with me.

Recently, I have observed the same question being asked in several blogs written by men: What do women want? What do they expect of a man? I've thought about this for a while and read the stories these and other men had to tell. It seems to me the sad truth is many women don't know what they want. They might have some vague idea instilled by romantic novels and movies, women's magazines and love songs. But what are they looking for in a man? Notice I say man and not guy or boyfriend or lover. I'm talking about the kind of man we want to hold on to. The one we will never leave or share with anyone else. The one we will give ourselves to entirely and forever.

Old-fashioned virtues come to mind: strength, honesty, fidelity, integrity. We need a man who will provide security, stability and protection. Someone we can count on, someone we can trust. A real man who will stand by his word. Picking a mate we are going to spend our life with is an enormously important decision. Much more important than electing a president or a pope.

The poem in my last entry was actually an opener for this post. This would be a good time to read it if you haven't already. You will notice we are not talking about a president or a pope here, but a king. Yes, the man who will be our king. Now, before you lynch me, let me say this: Only by selecting a man worthy to be a king can we make sure we will be treated like queens in return.

"I look for a man and a king. A king for the beautiful realm called Home, and a man that his Maker, God, shall look upon as he did on the first and say: 'It is very good.' I require your heart be as true as God's stars and as pure as His heaven your soul. Is your heart an ocean so strong and true, I may launch my all on its tide? I require all things that are grand and true, all things that a man should be."

I know, many young women today dont' feel this way. I cannot speak for them and I don't know what they are looking for. But this goes out to those of you who are still waiting for that knight in shining armor. Don't lower your expectations too much. If you are going to make a man your king, you have every right to ask these virtues of him. If you choose someone to look up to, he will be inspired to reach his full potential as a man. Your loving approval and the fact that he is a real man in your eyes will make him want to lay the world at your feet and strive to please you. A true king will make you his queen.

All right, you may lynch me now.

by Lena Lathrop

Do you know you have asked for the costliest thing
Ever made by the hand above?
A woman's heart, and a woman's life
And a woman's wonderful love.

Do you know you have asked for this priceless thing
As a child might ask for a toy?
Demanding what others have died to win
With the reckless dash of a boy.

You have written my lesson of duty out,
Manlike, you have questioned me.
Now stand at the bars of my woman's soul
Until I shall question thee.

You require your mutton shall always be hot,
Your socks and your shirt be whole;
I require your heart be as true as God's stars
And as pure as His heaven your soul.

You require a cook for your mutton and beef,
I require a far greater thing;
A seamstress you're wanting for socks and shirts
I look for a man and a king.

A king for the beautiful realm called Home,
And a man that his Maker, God,
Shall look upon as he did on the first
And say: "It is very good."

I am fair and young, but the rose may fade
From this soft young cheeck one day;
Will you love me then, 'mid the falling leaves
As you did 'mong the blossoms of May?

Is your heart an ocean so strong and true,
I may launch my all on its tide?
A loving woman finds heaven or hell
On the day she is made a bride.

I require all things that are grand and true,
All things that a man should be;
If you give this all, I would stake my life
To be all you demand of me.

If you cannot be this, a laundress and cook
You can hire and little to pay;
But a woman's heart and a woman's life
Are not to be won that way.

I saw this quiz in several blogs. I'm not usually the type to take quizzes, but this one I found intriguing. Well, it turns out my brain is 60% female and 40% male, which doesn't surprise me. I had expected to have some "male" in me, but still be more on the female side. I don't think anyone is 100%, at least not in this quiz.

In many ways, the female stereotype (the one that exists only in gender-related jokes) doesn't apply to me. I'm very quiet (not shy, just introvert), I try to think logical and rational, I keep to myself a lot, I'm not very emotional and I'm frugal with money.

On the other hand, some of my qualities might be considered typically female. I'm an empathic listener, I value understanding and harmony, I would rather give in and compromise than fight, and I am willing to hold back my opinion in order to avoid hurting other people's feelings.

Whether these are strengths or weaknesses is a question I will leave unanswered for now.

I would like to say thank you for the warm welcome to everyone who took the time to leave a comment or simply visit my blog. You are making me feel right at home. I have looked at many other blogs and found some people's writing very interesting. I will try not to add more friends than I can keep up with reading regularly, so don't take it personal if I don't add you right away.

After getting acquainted with Mindsay, I have decided that my favorite feature is what they call "tags". As you can see on the left, I have bookmarked some I will be checking frequently. I'm looking forward to discovering what else Mindsay has to offer.