[Adam]

I think the phrase "I love you" 1) loses its effect if it is overused, and 2) sets you up as very vulnerable if you tell it to someone. Whenever I say it to my Apostolic wife, I get no response. I tell it to 2 out of 3 of my kids I get it told back to me, a blank stare from the 3rd kid (I'm in my late 40's, they are 19-21). My Ma and I say it to each other at the end of every phone conversation and email, it's sort of a tradition with us. My Dad would say "I love ya, Pal" everyday before I went off to school. Well....then he died when I was at the age of 12. Anyway, I would rather show my love via work and commitment to the person, not just throw out some banal phrase hoping I get off the hook for being a jerk otherwise.