I cried last weekend, a loud, unattractive sob. I was in the car alone when I felt it coming on, like a sneeze. I pulled into an empty parking lot, put the car in park, and gave in to the emotion completely. Tears flooded, my mascara ran and my mouth contorted into that scary cry smile--lips pulled tight, teeth clenched, tongue tied, strange caveman noises erupting from deep inside my throat. I pulled a spare napkin from the glove box after a few minutes and began Disaster Recovery. Dotting, blotting, dabbing, wiping. I caught a glimpse of myself in the rearview mirror. Yikes.
Mid-cry, I started gathering my scattered thoughts. I couldn't remember the last time I'd cried, really cried, like this. There was a certain satisfaction in letting go, not fighting to be in control of my emotions. A cry is cleansing, I thought. I should cry more often.
When I was done, I folded the napkin into a small wad and tucked it in my garbage bag. I took a deep breath and blew the air from my limp lower lip up to my forehead, the amen of a proper cry. I put the car in drive.
And when I got home, I took two Extra Strength Pamprin.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
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21 comments:
I've thought that, too...Why don't I let myself cry more often? I really should. Like you, I feel better afterward.
Hope you are feeling better.
"Crying Takes the Sad Out of You"!? I know that song! I learned it in "Joy School". Are you a Joy School graduate?
Hope things are better for you now.
I'm due for another one. I hope you are feeling better.
Boy howdy do I know the feeling. Good job putting the experience into words.
I only cry when I'm really angry or really upset. And, um yeah, hormonal. Not when I'm sad. Weird.
When I hear about people crying I cry a little too, you know sharing their burden and all. My mom was a big proponent of crying. She told me that the tears carried all the excess (emotion/hormones or whatever) out of your body and restored balance. Hope you got all your sad out. If not, I can cry with you some more.
I almost cried reading this post...but I understand! My hunny thinks I cry way too much (and maybe he's right, sheesh), and doesn't understand that sometimes I'm not crying about anything. I just need to get a good sob out! Poor guy... I'm glad you had your cleansing moment. Don't hold back, ladies. Tears are one of our bodies' way of cleaning out the toxins!
I agree. There really is nothing better than a good cry.
And the fact that this post title references the cinematic masterpiece Free to Be You and Me - just made me fall in creepy stalker love with you. Before it was innocent blogger love. But it is now stepped up a notch. (If you ever want the album, let me know. Cause I have it. On vinyl...)
Oh, I wuv you! (Think Brianna's voice.)
I cried like that in the shower the other day. It was like a shower for my soul...and my body because I was literally in the shower...
I've cried too often over the years. I'm trying to teach myself not to give into every time I feel the desire. I wish I were a little more like you, like crying was a novelty, a guilty pleasure.
By the way, you have a garbage bag in your car? My car IS a garbage bag!
Here's hoping you have little cry (or not cry) about this week . . .
I'm sorry you felt like you neede to cry, but it is good for the soul,isn't it?
"Besides I look forward to a good cry."-Natalie Portman in Garden State
Sooo true! You cannot feel better if you bottle it up. It must explode out of you in the form of wet tears and a runny nose.
Have you noticed that only FEMALES are commenting? It must be because:
"Boys don't cry"
Thanks to The Cure those words.
Good for you, Tiff. It helps to have/take some alone time to let it happen and not have to try to explain what you're feeling to anyone else. Thanks for putting so vividly into words that universal experience. Sure do love you.
I hat the big cry. I get the worst headache afterwards!
been there. it's necessary. i could use one right now.
Hahaha....love that ending.
I, too, love a good cry. Except that I'm always very verklempt afterwards. I hate the post cry nasal voice and headache. :(
Good thing you've got "reinforcements" coming to visit! Have a wonderful time with the girlfriends! You know... you take my husband away when events like this happen...Ryan and Val will have those phones glued to their ears!
heidi b.
i recommend a good cry at least every few weeks. haha. it seriously helps though! glad you had your moment and felt better. :)
Everyone needs a good purging now and then. :)
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