Tears

This whole weekend I have been focused on one thing: A tear I saw fall from a man's eye. I just cannot stop thinking about it. It absolutely broke my heart...Let's talk about tears...

Webster's defines a tear as the following:

1tear
Pronunciation: 'tir
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English tæhher, tEar; akin to Old High German zahar tear, Greek dakry
1 a : a drop of clear saline fluid secreted by the lacrimal gland and diffused between the eye and eyelids to moisten the parts and facilitate their motion b plural : a secretion of profuse tears that overflow the eyelids and dampen the face
2 : a transparent drop of fluid or hardened fluid matter (as resin)
3 plural : an act of weeping or grieving
- tear·less adjective

That definition just describes the physical aspect of what the tear is...Hey, it's a noun...I guess it's correct? Does it really define what a tear really means to us, though? Not hardly. Tears will come in just one long strand down someone's face, or a constant stream of emotion that seemingly has no end, or just fall from the eye and land somewhere just to dry up and be forgotten about, while the emotions behind the tear sometimes never really flee far from our minds...There are all kinds of emotions, backing these tears...circumstances beyond the comprehension of the next person, for we all feel differently...

Here are some of the reasons I have cried, and for which I have witnessed:

*A tear that fell from a man's face, landing on the nose of his dog as he prepares to say goodbye to his dog--possibly never to see him again
*As a lover walks away knowing they will never see this person they love again, because one has just broken the other's heart
*As a father says goodbye to his child before dropping them off at college that very first weekend
*As your best friend told her funniest joke to date
*As you realize that the man of your dreams has FINALLY arrived--it has taken you long enough, ROBB!!! LMAO
*As you are going insane because you have just dropped a drill on your toe and your father drives slower than a turtle and the closest hospital happens to be nearly an hour away!!!
*As you arrive at some amazing spiritual clarity
*You just watched the movie, "The Green Mile"
*As you describe your best friend, Buffy
*During your most frustrating moment at work
*As you drive away from work for the last time, knowing you probably won't see some of those dear people ever again
*As your lover touches you for the very first time in such an intimate way
*As you say goodbye to a loved one you will never hear, see, or touch again, for they have passed on to the next life
*As you hear your baby's first cry
*A father who is giving up his daughter to a new man in her life, who will now love, honor and protect her
*As your heart breaks for people in a crisis situation, in which you have no control over

I know some of you are wondering, Carla, where is this coming from??? I stopped by a friend's house to say goodbye to his dog...He is deploying in a few months for a year and a half...just thought I would die as I watched a tear fall from the eye of that man and as that tear fell, it landed on nose of his dog...that moment broke my heart into a million pieces (I love dogs and I'll never see this dog again)...I just started thinking of all the many reasons people cry...So many times we have no clue what all is behind a tear...So many memories...so many hopes and shattered dreams...the ending of a place in one's life, the beginning of new lives for others...I could just go on and on...