"I'm going to keep on 'til I find it..."

[rivka]

Not when accepting sympathy from horrified people who've just found out.

Not when explaining to Alex again that there isn't a baby.

Not even when sorting and packing up some baby clothes for the move.

But without warning, this morning, while waiting for the elevator to take me to the hospital blood lab for a quantitative HCG follow-up, I completely lost my composure and started to cry. Half an hour later, I'm still feeling incredibly fragile. No idea why.

I would feel less broken right now if my reactions were easier to understand. In a way, it would make more sense if I were crying all day or unable to get out of bed. Instead, 90% of the time I feel totally normal and functional. And then: not.

The other thing that set me off without warning was hearing my father-in-law's voice, when we called him to make sure they'd escaped the tornadoes that slammed through Memphis on Tuesday.

Until recently, I had never really thought about the fact that the reason Michael was adopted is that his mother had several miscarriages, ultimately ending in a hysterectomy. Michael's father has never said a word to me about it. But somehow the kindness in his voice when he says "Hi, honey" connects me to this pain of his, more than forty years old but still present.

Michael's father is aware of, and solicitous of, Michael's pain and grief in a way that no one else seems to be. (I love Michael dearly, but I am ashamed to say that my grief is pretty self-centered right now.) I'm so glad that there is someone who sees his primary job as taking care of Michael. And yet what an awful, awful connection for a father and son to share.

Comments

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

I had similar experiences when my dad had cancer, and when I was getting a divorce. I’d just be doing something else, thinking about something random, and start crying. When my dad had cancer, that moment would still hit even after it was apparent that he was going to be fine. With my divorce, because I met Jeff so quickly afterwards, there was a moment when I was utterly and completely happy in my current situation, but I still needed to cry and mourn the previous marriage. That was… odd.

So yeah, I think that’s normal, as normal as possible for such exceptional and overwhelming emotions. I suppose it doesn’t make it easier.

I’ve been thinking about you and adding my positive thoughts to the cosmos.

[nex0s.livejournal.com]

With my divorce, because I met Jeff so quickly afterwards, there was a moment when I was utterly and completely happy in my current situation, but I still needed to cry and mourn the previous marriage. That was… odd.

I had very similar experiences when I went through my divorce.

Grief does what it needs to. We're here for you though, rivka.

N.