Monday, July 20, 2009

The Weeper

Monday, July 20, 2009

I want to start off by expressing enormous gratitude to SIS BJ! She really handled things for us this week and she was great!! BJ, I hope you join us many more times to come. It was a blast.

Now, I don’t know if I’ve always been this way—I’ll have to ask my siblings for verification—but lately I’ve been a spicket, a virtual waterfall, a leaky faucet. I am the weeper.

I cry at the drop of a hat and before you start wondering if I’m depressed or falling off the deep end, I’ll explain that these are mainly good tears, cleansing tears. These are happy tears.

I would like to share with you a couple of circumstances that have initiated these tears and caused the weeper to emerge.

Last week—after having received free tickets—my husband and I were able to take our two children to The Jonas Brothers concert. My son who is only four years old didn’t last past the second song of the opening act. Too loud. And boy was it. My daughter, on the other hand, was in heaven. She’s seven years old and was completely in awe of the entire set-up. The screaming audience, the stage, the light show, the “talent”, she couldn’t get enough. Perched on the edge of her seat beaming from ear to ear and loving life as much as anyone could in those moments. I didn’t watch the show, I watched her with a thick throat and soggy cheeks. I am the weeper.

A couple of months ago I took my first online class. The class was called Deconstructing Emotion and it was supposed to be an interactive class. There were homework assignments to turn in and lessons to learn. Only a few of us were brave enough or willing to share our work with the others. I was timid at first but realized I wouldn’t learn as much if I didn’t participate to the full extent. There was one assignment that was particularly difficult for me but I plowed through and turned it in. The instructor, who happens to be a best selling author and respected instructor, gave me such a wonderful reply acknowledging how much she enjoyed my excerpt and thought it was quite good, I immediately broke down with excited, astonished tears. I am the weeper.

Most recently I received a phone call from my sister, Beth. She asked if I had a moment to talk and I answered, “of course I do.” She told me that someone wanted to talk to me and I immediately got nervous, sweaty palms and all. See, I knew Beth was at the RWA National Conference, and all of a sudden, I had a feeling I knew who was about to be on the other end of that phone. I have a favorite author; I think we all do. This author happens to be a friend of Beth’s. I didn’t know this until recently. I’ve been reading this author’s work for years and have loved her since the first one. Okay, back to it, I knew, knew she would be saying hello any moment and all I could think was please don’t be her, please don’t be her. Now, I know you think I’ve lost my mind but I didn’t want to talk to her because I knew I was going to sound like an idiot. I hear someone come on the line. “Hi, Barb. This is such and such.” (I’m afraid to share her real name for fear I will embarrass her) My response… “Shut up!” oh yeah, I am so witty. Anyway, I held it together (barely) and she was absolutely great. I hope I came across sounding at least halfway intelligent, but I really doubt it. I was in heaven and bumbling my words. But I was touched and when she gave the phone back to Beth, the faucet started and didn’t stop for a long time. It meant the world to me that Beth took the time to do this for me, to honor me with that phone call. Thank you, Beth, from the bottom of my heart, and because of you, once again, I am the weeper!

Anyone else been weeping lately? Do share. I’ve got the box of tissues all ready!

Also, I've decided on a pen name and barring no complications, I will be able to use it. From now on I'll add it to my signature!

SIS Barb writing as Elle J Rossi

16 comments:

B.J. said...

Barb,

I don't cry very often,but when it comes to my kids I do. The first day of school, Christmas programs, and awards shows always makes me cry.
I weeped when I saw Bryanna walk on stage for her first play. I hope she has many more to come.

Beth is always good for surprises. I remember when she stood in line forever to get me an autograph from one of my favorite authors. Best Christmas present I have ever recieved. And yes, I did cry.

Sisters-in-Sync said...

HI BJ!

I remember that Christmas present. Pretty cool, huh? I bet you still know exactly where that book is! Those are the best moments.

I want to be there for one of Smurfettes plays, so please keep me posted on upcoming performance dates!

Love ya!

SIS Barb

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Barb,

I know I don't have to tell you about my crying. Sometimes I think I cry more often than not. I remember crying watching the news one evening because students had a bet with their principal and the students won so the principal had to kiss a pig. I knew that those kids were having the best time watching their principal kiss the pig and it made me weep!
Anything my kids do makes me cry. I am fortunate that I get to see them in many productions and just reading their name in the program gets the water works flowing!
When we watch TV as a family, I often catch my oldest son looking over at me just wondering how long it will be before I start to cry.

I recently received an e-mail from you, Barb, and your incredibly kind words made me cry like a baby. Thank you for that.
Oh well, I guess there are worse things!

Michael Miller said...

I've gone years without crying but, lately I have been. It just feels so good to let it all out. So just keep weeping if that is how you want to let it all out!

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Hi Bren,

Oh yeah...you too are a weeper! The best times is when we laugh and/or cry together. Or when we laugh because we're crying. Or when we cry because we're laughing so hard. Those are my favorite times and I hope we share many more!!!


Guess what? I'm getting a Bag O' Hair and I know that will make me cry too!!

SIS Barb

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Big huge arm wave to Michael!

Thanks for stopping by! Please visit us often. Don't you worry, I let it out often and it does make me feel better as I hope you do too!

Can't wait to see you!

SIS Barb

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Bren

By the way, you are very welcome and I meant every single word of it!

SIS Barb

Tori Lennox said...

I got all sniffly (not full blown crying but close) when ABC News had their "person of the week" a couple of weeks ago. It was this young girl (I think she only like seven or eight) who'd raised several thousand dollars to build an orphanage in Haiti, I believe. She was then raising money to build another in Africa. That had me sniffly enough. But then the next week, Charlie Gibson said they'd gotten such a response from the story, that she now had a quarter of a million dollars raised!!! That set me off even more. :)

And I almost always getting teary-eyed while watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Olga said...

What a wonderful surprise from Beth! I normally cry when I'm upset, so I can't recall happy tears...

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Tori,

What a great story. I didn't see that one and I can only imagine the tears if I had.

I ALWAYS cry when I watch Extreme Makeover:Home Edition. ALWAYS!!!!

SIS Barb

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Hi Olga,

That surprise from Beth was the best!!!

I do think that the tears that fall when I'm upset are completely different than the happy ones but both make me feel good or at least better afterwards!

SIS Barb

Mary Stella said...

Oooh, I bet I know which author! If it's the one I'm thinking of, I also know that she is the type of woman who truly enjoyed speaking with you and is a warm, caring person.

I also know that if it's the woman I think it is, that someday you'll get to meet her in person.

Sisters-in-Sync said...

HI Mary,

I know you know who it is and you are so right! She was awesome and I can't wait to meet her. Hopefully, you'll be there to witness my ogling!

SIS Barb

Beth Ciotta said...

Hi, gang! It is I. Instigator of Happy Tears. I had no idea I had such power!

Actually, BJ, I was thrilled to do something (that really wasn't all that much) in order to give YOU a thrill. Same goes for you Barb, and I don't believe the author of discussion--Heather Graham--would mind if I shared her name. She is a dear friend and one of the most giving people that I know and you WILL get to meet her! Just don't faint. I really don't want to have to throw cold water on you. ;)

As for being weepy... I am a HUGE crier. One of those 'Hallmark Card' criers. I can't even sing the Star Spangled Banner without crying. When Heather spoke on the phone to Barb my eyes welled, just because I was so touched that she did that for me, and because I knew how Barb had to be feeling. Any Humane Society commercial... forget it. Anything to do with helping needy or sick children... the tears are flowing.

My favorite is Steve and I are watching a movie and, during certain moments, without him even looking at me, he say's, "You're crying, aren't you?"

It's a curse, I tell you!

SIS Beth

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Too funny, Beth.

I love the Steve scenario. That is so him!!

Okay you outed her so now I will scream it!! HEATHER GRAHAM IS MY FAVORITE AUTHOR AND I SPOKE TO HER ON THE PHONE!!! WOO HOO!!!

I cry anytime anyone sings the Star Spangled Banner. Even the bad singers!

SIS Barb

Brooks C. said...

The Wedding Entrance Dance that exploded on YouTube earlier this week makes me sob with JOY. I've watched it several times and it still gets me. I think I need analysis... kidding, it's a joyous celebration of life, friends, family, and they shared it with the world.

There are a lot of things that cause the tears to well up (all joyful or grateful tears) as my years advance. It could, also, be severe sleep deprivation. |-0

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