salty discharge

I just finished watching Field of Dreams for probably about the thousandth time. It's one of those movies that sucks me in like a vacuum. I own it on DVD, yet anytime I catch it on television, I'm watching. I love how the story unfolds, I find the theme of faith woven throughout the plot compelling, and I'm a sucker for Ray and John Kinsella having a catch. No matter how many times I've seen it, that scene always draws a tear or two out of me, and sometimes quite a few more.

Granted, I'm not one to shy away from a few tears, at least as far as guys are concerned. I'm not sure if my colleagues were aware of this or not, but I actually got a little choked-up during a committee discussion of an applicant one time. Listening to the Scott Van Pelt Show on ESPN Radio several weeks ago, Scott posed the question: what movie always makes you cry? The closing scene of Field of Dreams was the first thought that came to my mind. It reminds me of watching the film for the first time, with my father.

Good or bad, whether causing pleasure or pain, it's important to experience our emotions. As my migration to New England moves to a less distant point on the horizon day by day, and I start the sobering process of saying my goodbyes to my life in Virginia, I'm certainly experiencing an interesting wave of emotions, and I'm shedding tears on what seems like a daily basis. The thought of moving so far away, and so far away from what has become comfortable and familiar is scary, and it's lonely. But as I say these goodbyes I'm reminded that, like everyone else in this world, I'm not alone - and there will always be people in my life for whenever I want to have a catch.