Sacred
It was a couple of weeks ago when I sat in a Portland Baja Fresh choking back tears over my Diablo burrito and having a devil of a time. (For the record, this was the first time I’d gone to a chain restaurant in Portland after years of dining there. If you don’t understand why I don’t do chains there, you need to visit Portland.) I was overtired and emotional and the salsa in my burrito was getting diluted with my tears and noticeably saltier. I noticed something else. Something I’ve witnessed before when I’d shed public tears. For me, crying in public is not rare, per se, but it’s not common either. But there’s something that always happens in response to this visible emotion.
People do a double take. Even if I’m not in the throes of full blown ugly-cry and I imagine my eyes are just sort of glistening.
After the double take, people sort of look away, bow their head in reverence. Like they recognize it’s a private moment, whether its in a public space or not. It’s special, it’s sacred.
When I see someone cry, I do the same. We have an understanding. This is a sacred moment, and a moment of humanity we all can get.
I just saw a video this morning of Arizona state Trooper Mark Gilberg signing off for the final time after 37 years of service. He wasn’t in a Baja Fresh, but he wasn’t exactly alone, either.
As I watched this clip, and heard his audible sweet, un-cop like tender tears, I bowed my head, respecting and revering his sacred moment.
http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/37849554/37-year-career-concludes-for-arizona-dps-trooper