you would think that I'm a sap

....if you were to glimpse my bawling face this morning when I learned that Laura Ling and Euna Lee had been released. Every time I saw their pictures while they were held captive, in fact, you could certainly have seen the sting that it brought to my heart and my eyes.
My older sister cries at long distance commercials and generally I am quite the opposite. Generally, I don't pay much attention to the news. Generally, only the tears of tangible individuals can cause my heart to ache. Generally, I'm a smart ass..........but this wasn't general.
I know without a doubt that my heart aches because of a person who is quite tangible to me, as the thought that came to mind immediately and repeatedly when I heard details of this story was my own sister. I couldn't help but make the parallel: how I would die inside and out if that were my sister. I raised her. She's more than my sister. I know that this bothers my older siblings at times. I can't help that any more than I can help the fact that they share bonds and experiences that are unique to them and don't include my sister and me. I have good relationships with them, just different.
Ultimately, I know that no one could be as happy for Laura as her own sister........but right now I'm running a close second.

peace