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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!

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