CRY BABY, CRY!

I took this picture in my doctor’s waiting room because it made me sad. Even older people sit on their phones silently scrolling. We don’t talk to each other anymore. For someone who didn’t cry much as a kid, I’ve made up for it in adulthood. These days tears spill from my eyes, often over the littlest things, like the child’s animated movie, “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.”

Yesterday, I happily sold my car for the asking price, but the second I handed the buyer my keys, tears began falling.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

Apparently, the prospect of never driving my Subaru again undid me. Who knew?

Punch, a baby monkey at the Tokyo Zoo, was recently rejected by his mother. So, a zookeeper gave him a stuffie for company. Watching him cuddle something that can’t cuddle him back is heartbreaking. I figure if I don’t laugh, cry, feel anger or love every week, I’m not really living but rather inhabiting a zombie shell. We were born with a full range of emotions, and we should use them all. It’s healthy!

Today at the drug store, I had a reverse surprise. As I checked out, the cashier had trouble entering my card. It took forever. There was only one woman behind me, but her arms were just full of items. I felt terrible for keeping her waiting. I kept looking back at her, so she knew I empathized with her predicament. Each time she just smiled. Finally, the cashier rang me up.

“I’m so sorry you had to wait so long,” I said, clearing room for her on the counter.

“That’s okay,” she said, “I’m not in a rush.”

Unlike me, she was a stellar example of pure and utter patience. I was in awe. When the cashier handed me my receipt, there was also a coupon for, “7$ off your next purchase,” attached. I immediately handed it to the woman.

“Here, take this!”

Wide-eyed, she looked at the coupon, then at the cashier.

“Will this really work?” she asked astonished.

“Of course,” replied the cashier.

Her eyes welled up.

“Thank you,” she said gratefully.

Apparently, I’m not the only one who gets sappy when someone is kind. Call me a crybaby , but at least crying is good for me! So get out there and show your feelings while you still have them!