On the day before our 40th-wedding anniversary at the beginning of August, on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean with a hundred guests there to celebrate, I’ll be officiating my niece’s wedding. By the time you read this, they’ll be married.
It’s a new experience for me and a bit out of my comfort zone. Not the speaking to a hundred people so much, but the tear-free challenge it poses. Let me clarify. I’m good at crying. I cry at weddings, cards, movies, news, stories, graduations, Christmas, and most anything that touches my heart. Some might label me a sentimentalist, an empathizer, or a soft-hearted person.
It’s part of who I am and I’m good with that; it even helps me as a writer. But sometimes my heart connection brings challenges. At my son’s wedding, I only managed not to cry by biting the inside of my cheek harder and harder until that overwhelmed-with-love-emotion was calmed. But I can’t bite my mouth while conducting a wedding ceremony.
While profoundly honored to be asked, the crying-question lingered after my enthusiastic “yes” months ago. How will I stop tears from coming when I (continue reading →)
