Skip to main content

Ah, the tears

I have this capability (for lack of a better word) to cry over the simplest, silliest things. On Saturday, while driving home from a party, I saw a "canner" collecting donations for Penn State's Dance Marathon, which is or was, to the best of my recollection, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, and benefits the Four Diamonds Fund, a charity for kids with cancer.

When I saw the canner, tears filled up my eyes, as they pretty much do every year around this time when I see college kids canning. Why? Maybe I was thinking back to my being in Thon, staying awake and standing for those 48 hours. Maybe I was thinking about my friend who died from cancer just a month before Thon, who was my inspiration for doing it. Maybe, just maybe, seeing the young guy reminds me there is still good in the world.

Today, I dropped off Jordan's registration form for first grade at the Catholic school of the church we attend. As I walked through the cafeteria filled with eating kids, my eyes teared up. Partially I was thinking about my kid going to a new school, with new kids, all day; this what she is going to be doing for the next 12 years (school in general, not this school). I was also thinking about when I was in school. I have a lot of good memories from Catholic school. Some bad, but I mostly ignore those.

I cry when babies are baptized at church. I cry when we (the choir) sing at the first communion mass. As soon as I see those little girls in their white dresses, it is all over for me. I cried when I took Jordan to the Christmas Eve children's mass when the kids in the parish, dressed up like various people and animals from the Nativity, walked to the altar. I cry at the All Souls mass every year, even though I almost never know anyone who has died and whose name is read.

I cry over various commercials; too many to recall. Sometimes I cry when I see a business has closed. Heck, I even cried when I read something on a Wendy's sign a year or two ago (I have no idea what was on the sign). I cry every year when Westinghouse puts up the lighted tree along the Parkway East. And then I get sad when the tree comes down.

I have cried over football losses as well as big games won (I don't think I cried when the Steelers won the SB this year).

I did not cry when I got married, and I did not cry when Jordan was born, even though I have cried over many "A Wedding Story" and "A Baby Story" episodes. But believe me, I have cried for and about Brian and Jordan enough to make up for those days devoid of tears.

We each have our own "things." My thing is just a little more emotional than most.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Facie, I too am a big crier (most embarrassing when choosing greeting cards or singing The Star Spangled Banner at a sporting event). I was so happy I made it through my wedding without big heaving sobs (I took a shot of whiskey beforehand). We have pictures of me at my sister's wedding (I was 13) with red eyes and a blotchy face, clutching a Kleenex. I can't control it, but there are worse things. I'm glad I'm not the only one.
Facie said…
Pretty much any time I go to a Steelers game, you can bet there will be tears, from the SSB, to the men and women in uniform. If it is a big game, and there is a flyover or fireworks for "rockets red glare," I cry too.

Happy to have a sister in tears!

Popular posts from this blog

Why do they stand up there and say that when they are just lying?

That extra-long title is courtesy of my nine-year-old and was something she uttered during "Say Yes to the Dress" on Friday evening. I watch very little reality TV, but I make an exception for this show because I like to look at the dresses. And sometimes, the stories are heart-warming. Typically at the end of the show, a snippet of a wedding is aired. In this particular show, a woman who was confined to a wheelchair was exchanging vows with her fiance. After the two of them finished, J made her comment. I asked her what she meant as I must have been on the computer while the TV was on, and she explained that because so many people just get divorced, why do they even say "as long as we both shall live"? That is tough one, kid. I tried with what I thought was a sound explanation: Most of the people who get married truly believe they will be together the rest of their lives, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. But if you don't think that you will be ...

Do you ever just want to run away...

Yesterday's post was a rant about a fairly pointless two-hour delay. For the record, if it is snowing in the morning or if it has snowed throughout the night, I am not against a delay; the road crews have a lot of ground to cover. It is unfortunate for those who still need to get to work and are left scrambling to find child care or have to go in late. But I am all about safety. It is the temps that are clearly going nowhere any time soon that do not warrant a delay, again, in my opinion. It will be cold all day today. Having another delay today, once again, seemed pointless, but I am over it. ***** I had a rough weekend, and I have debated whether I should write about it. As my mom and one of my brothers are so fond of saying (though I will be paraphrasing), "Once you put it down in writing (on paper or in an email), it will always be there. You can't take it back." For that reason, when things weigh heavily on my mind, I don't always share them in this blog....

TMI

When I refer to TMI, I am not talking about people sharing (often gross) things they probably should not. But rather sharing a friend's or a relative's personal information with a spouse or significant other. I know people who have cheated on their spouses, had abortions, have been raped or victims of domestic violence, committed (minor) criminal acts, did not disclose things to the government that they should have, suffered from various mental aliments, and who have been drug addicts or alcoholics. In most cases, I have not shared that information with Brian unless the person told me I could or I felt he needed to know for family safety issues (e.g., you have to consider who you let your children around). I am certain he would think less of some of these people if he knew things they did, so what purpose does it serve telling him? But more importantly, I want these people who confide in me to know they have my word. I can honestly say I don't think I can trust any of ...