This morning at work, suddenly roused from my stone faced stoicism (my game face), I cupped my hand over my mouth, a desperate bid to choke down the lump in my throat which manifested into tears that spilled freely... without my permission. How dare they?? I swiped at them violently, like a petulant child does in defiance of a stern mother... but they just kept coming. I sniffed hard, trying to force them back into oblivion... willing my trademark aloofness to resurface... alas to no avail. A stone is reduced to fragments and particles at some point. I sniffed hard, I inhaled deeply. They kept coming. I blew my nose, a desperate attempt to rid my lacrimal glands of all matters liquid. I turned my back to my passing colleagues, blowing my nose, dabbing at my eyes, and lacquering my lips with gloss, over and over again. It was comforting. I think I played it off. Allergies? Or a cold perhaps? I fooled them. I walked briskly to the bathroom, closed myself in a stall, blew my nose harder, and muttered, "get a grip, get a grip, get a grip, what's WRONG with you?" I wet a coarse, brown, paper towel with cold water, and dabbed at the redness that encircled the rims of my eyes. I glossed up once more, and reappeared. I walked in the staff kitchen, popped a chocolate covered cherry in my mouth (left over remnants of someone's holiday, no doubt. Thanks for sharing), and got back to work... letting the chocolate melt across my tongue. That was comforting too. I believe that those were spillover emotions (of frustration) from 2005, cleansing themselves out of my system. "Oya, I pray Oya Illuminate me with intelligence, lead me so I won't get lost in the world carefully, carefully, strenuous woman Oya, my fresh air Let no ill wind blow in out direction stand steadily by your children Oya secret of our survival." I am DEFINITELY ready to rumble and collect on that good karma, for sure.