I read an article a long time ago about the Israeli military and their experiments with allowing women to participate in combat alongside the infantrymen. They had to abandon the idea. Not because the women were not physically and psychologically as capable as the men at bringing about death and destruction to the enemy, but because they found that the men couldn't handle it emotionally. Seems during this period there were higher rates of depression, suicidal tendencies, apathy, mental breakdown, etc. among infantrymen who had witnessed the gruesome death of one of the female soldiers due to land mines, mortar rounds, rifle fire, what have you.

All this in an attempt to provide a theory as to why men may be more emotionally "distant," or fear intimacy more than women. Perhaps men can't handle or have experienced one or more times the pain of losing someone close to them and the reaction is to isolate those emotions so they will never be felt again. (Cue talent: "Hi! I'm not a licensed therapist but I play one on TV.")

As far as addressing the observation that he's cerebral and logical.....for lack of a better response I'm going to wimp out and take refuge in the "it's genetic" hypothesis. Contrary to popular belief, there are differences among men and women that don't make us unequal, just...different, thankfully. Not that women can't be cerebral and logical, but it seems a lot of times women and men take different paths in certain endeavors to come up with the same solution to a problem. I am fascinated when my wife comes up with a (to me) unique and innovative solution to a problem, a solution that I never would have contemplated. But to her it's the usual way she goes about solving a problem, and she's amazed that I find it so intriguing ("Isn't that the way you do it?" she asks).

As far as addressing the subject line of your message: some of "Kentucky's finest" and liberal doses of Hank Williams have worked for me in the past...it's a band-aid solution at best, and not meant as a permanent "cure" for this malady, but it may numb feelings and obliterate memories long enough to figure out something better. Caveat Emptor: I emphasize the operative word "me" in the last statement. Judging from the number of Country&Western songs written on the subject, however, I surmise I'm not the only one has found temporary solace and comfort by drowning one's sorrows. Ultimatey, of course, you have to figure out on your own what works best for you. Good luck.