Awhhh yeah very sweet of him! Hold tight onto that one! I'm so glad you're in a better situation. I fortunately never walked the aisle with mine but it's so icky what bad relationships do to you!
I can definitely relate to getting emotional over gifts. My mom never had anything to do with me and the horse thing. Then for my 21st she got me the show halter I had been pining for. Evil b*tch that moved onto the ranch I was living on in Oregon stole it, made me furious. Last year they got me the synthetic english saddle I wanted so badly. Could not believe it!
I told my ex I wanted a new roping saddle way more than some stupid ring but did he listen? Should have been my first clue. He equated that crap with love. I would rather brag to the girls at races and ropings that this is the new saddle my hunny bought me. Gawh!
*sigh* I think I blew it with the adorable pick up driving cutie. He was so sweet too. I told him my wheel problem and he instantly called all his biker buddies trying to help me out!
"True, but if you throw your panties into the middle of the peloton, someone's likely to get hurt."