Today I drove about an hour and 20 minutes to meet my surrogate parents. I worked with this dear woman when I first moved to my fair city, and she and her tough but darling hubby took me under their wing. They have fed me when I needed nourishment, and not just food. They’ve helped me move – that’s what kind of people they are.
So, Surrogate Mom and Surrogate Dad moved about a year ago, and I have only seen them once or twice since the move. But we each drove half way today and spent the afternoon in a diner. It was so, so wonderful to see them and catch up.
Surrogate Dad excused himself, saying something about finding a car wash, and left Surrogate Mom and I to chat. And we both ended up crying as we talked about the last few months, and the many breaks and cracks in my heart.
It’s funny, though. I cried in a diner that wasn’t empty. People saw me crying. And I just didn’t care. I don’t have the energy to spend trying to keep my shit together for people I don’t know.
It’s freeing. And two weeks ago, when my boss at Corporate Behemoth asked me what was wrong? I evaded his question, then went back to my desk, took a deep breath, and wrote him an e-mail. I explained that the man I was going to marry changed his mind, and I was having a hard time. I thanked my boss for his concern, and explained that I couldn’t talk about it without crying, so e-mail it was.
And while that was sort of mortifying, it was freeing as well. I got a very kind response from my boss. Just like how none of the diner patrons pointed and laughed at me today.
I don’t know why I feel the need to pretend like everything is ok, even when it’s really, really not. Just being honest about what I’m going through is empowering. I know I shouldn’t be embarrassed or ashamed that I am nursing a serious heartbreak. But there is a part of me that feels like I should just get over it already. And I was surprised by how much I cried this afternoon.
But, so it goes. It’s grief. And it’s probably written on my forehead anyway, so I might as well just let it all out.
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