Crying in Public

I hate crying in public. It's basically my least favorite thing to do. So you know I'm definitely passionate or upset about something if you see me cry about it in front of you. The film Objects and Memory hit a chord with me, and I cried in public. But I think it was worth it. The film reminded me not only of the brave people involved with 9/11 -- on that day and in its preservation afterwards -- but it also reminded me a lot of my own life experience, as well as the importance of objects in my own life.

Here's the scoop. I wear this necklace sometimes that has two silver charms: one has two dolphins, a big one and a small one. The other is a small cross, and they're on a thick silver chain. My mom gave it to me the morning I started college when I was 18. It belonged to my dad, who passed away when I was 12 of a rare form of cancer. My mom said that the dolphins represent our family, (the large dolphin as my parents and the small one as my sister and me) and the cross was my dad's Confirmation cross. He used to wear this necklace all the time.

As the people in Objects and Memory spoke about their loved ones, I felt a real connection to them. I saw their important objects, and related to the fact that this object represents this person.

I know that my necklace won't stay intact forever, and that is the trouble with objects. They are finite; however, while we have them, it is our job as public historians to preserve them for the public so they can understand their significance. The preservation of objects that surround tragedies is one of our most important duties; these objects have huge potential to inspire hope, and I think this is the strongest force history offers.

As for my phobia of crying in public: I guess I'll just have to work that one out on my own.