Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Crying: for many reasons or no reason at all

Stampington & Co. image, M. Kelly.

Back to high school music, back to the oddities that loop through my brain. When I found the Everlys, young and harmonizing on Ed Sullivan in their Marine Corps uniforms, well. Even if there hadn't been a crying theme, I had to invite them over. Regardless of the lyrics, the sentiment today is not loss, nor heartache, nor being a fool.

Sometimes we cry with relief, when a great wrong has been righted, when a long-awaited solution appears. We weep with gladness at weddings, births, events of intense, overwhelming happiness. We cry for reasons we cannot name but know the tears do not represent sadness. We cry because we can, because we have a language that transcends words, heart language. Once upon a time, ladies carried hankies tucked into their sleeves, at least the ones I knew did. This is a day of promise, a day for doing the dance of joy and I believe I will just have myself a cry. Meanwhile, the Everly Brothers have something to say. I couldn't think of a song about crying in quiet gratitude.

15 comments:

Elisabeth said...

Thanks for this Marylinn. The song brings back such memories and the voices of those two then young men - voices to cry for.

I agree with your sentiments here. There are times when a good cry can be so refreshing if only for the chance to express whatever feelings may be welling up inside. We can, as you say, cry for joy as much as we might cry for sorrow. I always well up at airports whenever someone I love is coming home.

Claire Beynon said...

Dear Maryliin - I add my tears of gratitude, delight and relief to yours. A wrong has been righted - time to dance indeed. The heart is a faithful compass. xo

(And this is an especially beautiful stamp, Marylinn).

Isabel Doyle said...

Lovely post as ever, Marylinn. I think the young lady must have been very nicely brought up too - not only does she have a handkerchief to dab her nose with, it has a frilly edge!

Kerry O'Gorman said...

Aren't you glad to have such a big heart that can fill with these emotions? Me too! Even something sad can some how make me feel good. To know I am part of something bigger and can be overwhelmed by all of the things that make life beautiful and cherished.

Erin in Morro Bay said...

The marine uniforms, the long-overdue repeal of "don't ask-don't tell" indeed a mixture of gratitude, relief and hope - sometimes a good cry is a lovely thing.
Erin

Anonymous said...

yes, invite the cries over. cleansing words, this post.

lately i've come to know this thing called being a fool and so this post and this music makes for good company.

thank you!

susan t. landry said...

i love your artwork. and your sentiments. and green elf-boots.
and my word verification: treekeep.

that's what i'd like to be when i grow up, a treekeep with green elf-boots.

thanks, as always, for laying your good heart out here...
xo
susan

susan t. landry said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Marylinn Kelly said...

Elisabeth - Your telling about airports made me want to cry...I am such that a Hallmark commercial can make me weepy. I could not resist the brothers, their beautiful voices, a time that seems so long ago. xo

Marylinn Kelly said...

Claire - Thank you. Tears of relief and gratitude with no end in sight. Where would we be - not that I wish to know - without the heart compass? xo

Marylinn Kelly said...

Isabel - Thank you. Yes, she was raised in another era, I believe. Certainly not by wolves. xo

Marylinn Kelly said...

Kerry - It is its own sea, emotion, and while I have felt, at times, at its mercy, I wouldn't trade a full heart for anything. Our barometer, a measure of connectedness. And your Mole and Ratty visiting. The day is complete. xo

Marylinn Kelly said...

Erin - Sometimes, we actually do get out of our own way or something miraculous picks us up and sets us down in a better spot. Many joyful tears. xo

Marylinn Kelly said...

Sherry - Thank you. Oh, it is territory I know. Once I realized I would survive being many kinds of a fool, I was able to release THAT part of trying to get it right. xo

Marylinn Kelly said...

Susan - Something real to aspire to, treekeep in green elf boots. Stewards, guardians, at our best all keepers of something that matters. Thank you. xo