Weekend America's Krissy Clark recently noticed some mysterious fliers posted on phone poles around the Los Angeles area. They say: "Lost!!!! I lost my heart somewhere between downtown LA and Venice and it might be broken. If found, please email find.my.heart@gmail.com. I really need it back!" The fliers made Clark laugh, but also left her wondering who would respond. We meet some of the people who were drawn in.

Notes from Reporter Krissy Clark
When I first saw these fliers, I snapped back to memories of my own lost-hearted days. You know, those post-break up doldrums where you take long walks to nowhere, trapsing the streets, searching for solace. At least, that's how I handle that kind of stuff. The next thing I thought of when I saw the posters was "who IS this person who wrote this sign? What happened to them?" Alas, I never found out. The person behind the flier refused to reveal his, or her, identity. (All the guys I talked to thought it was a woman, all the ladies I talked to thought it was a guy.)

But as I worked on this story, I realized that it doesn't really matter who made the sign. The lessons came from the people who were moved to respond. To take time out of their busy days to reach out to someone with some words of comfort or philosophy or maybe just a joke.

Here are some of my favorite responses:

Today I found myself walking down La Brea Blvd. and saw ur LOST SIGN. and a few minutes later while on Melrose Ave i think i might have spotted ur heart in the back seat of a black jetta going north.

hope that info helps, **LM**

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My name is Janice... i'm a 21 year old redhead from New Jersey. I just recently made a trip across the country to see the los angeles area.. mostly santa monica and venice beach. I am an artist, a music lover, and a hippie at heart and i have to say i was absolurely intrigued by your post on a corner.

I am back home in NJ, and you really made me think... I have a strong affinity for anything of, or relating to love, and especially broken hearts (view photo to see what i have tattooed on my ringfinger).

I really hope you find your heart, and i hope anyone you give it to is worth having it...

- Janice

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Dear Find.My.Heart@Gmail.com,

I saw your poster on the corner of Whitley & Yucca in Hollywood, the same corner where I lost my heart a few years ago, and I decided to help you find yours. Do you remember where you were when you lost it? Did you give it to someone, or was it stolen? Are you certain it's even lost? Have you checked on your sleeve? It might just be on your sleeve. Granted, that's how most of them get lost or broken... you'd think someone would have invented an armband for that by now. I mean, they made one for the ipod.

Anway the picture, while drawn with love, seems a little sketchy. Could you describe your heart in more detail? (Please do not send an actual photograph of it- that's just not necessary.) Is it big, or small? Warm, or cold? Hard or soft? Has it been broken before, are there any scars to watch out for? That sort of thing.

Don't worry too much about it in the mean time, hearts are like cats. They prefer to wander freely, change their minds on a dime, and never do as they're told. Odds are it's just out on the prowl and it'll come back when it's hungry.

Hopefully this finds you too late, and your heart has already been returned to you in good condition. Otherwise, just remember that you aren't alone in loneliness. This is Los Angeles, and hearts hide easily among the broken dreams. Maybe while you're looking for yours, you'll find someone else's too.

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Hi there.

I saw your flyers for your missing/broken heart.

I saw it. But I'm sorry to say that it was broken. Someone was trying to sell it at a swap meet. They were asking $10, but I think I could have talked them down to $4. But it was broken, and it even looked like a dog used it as a 'play toy'.

But, you know, you're not the only person that has had their heart broken. It happens everyday. It is a very fragile organ (and it really doesn't make for a good dog toy).

How old are you now??? Are you going to be a pussy all your life? Get over it.

At least now you have some good material to write a hit 'emo' song and start a hot new hipster band. Get over that fucker that broke your heart, because if you start a band...you'll be getting laid all the time.

I'm sorry to be so blunt. I've been in your situation. It sucks, but one day you'll be over it. So PLEASE stop putting flyers up in my neighborhood.

Good luck.................mv

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Hello,

Sorry to hear about your heart. I think I know how you feel. I lost my heart a long time ago but I wasn't clever enough to put up a sign asking people to look out for it and now it's gone for good. I guess that is why I am so lost and helpless in my life. Even though I have more going for me than most people I really seem to have no passion for anything and often wish that I could die and that my place would be taken by someone who really appreciates being alive and would use their abilities and skills to actually help the world instead of just being useless and taking up valuable resources.

I thought my malaise would get better if I just got older, or if I found a girlfriend, but it seems that nothing will fill that cold empty place in my chest and make me feel like a real person.

So, good luck finding your heart, especially in this town.

Best Regards,
David

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dear lost!!!,

I found you plea for help stapled to a post on Sunset Blvd in Silverlake...I assume you are a girl and that you are probably in your 20's, if you were younger you wouldn't care about this sort of thing and if you were older you'ld be too tired and jaded to spend the time and effort. If I am wrong and you are some crazy, 60 year old cat lady sitting in a urine soaked apartment covered in fur...delete now and get on with whatever it is you do.

If you're still with me, let me just say this...life is long and it's not pretty. The bill of goods that you were sold as a child are all a pack of lies...much like Santa and the Easter bunny. Not many people will care for you unconditionally throughout your life, you have to pick and choose carefully whom you let in your inner circle of trust and even then, remind the ones who say they love you, that they are lucky to have you. Your heart is not broken, nor is it lost...just a little bruised and battered. You may say to yourself..NEVER AGAIN!, but much like those long hung over days spent on the couch, swearing to God that you will never drink again...you will. You will nurse yourself back to health, go out there in to the unsure world and on some optomistic evening, probably fueled with a bit of that liquid courage you've sworn off ...you will put your heart on your sleeve and roll the dice once more...it's what we do as a people, it's who we are...imperfect, fragile and always at the will of who we let in our hearts.

Good Luck,
T