Pink
I’ve been thinking about Friday’s wedding on the Today Show between Molly and Jason and why I was so emotional--after all, I’d only known this couple for a few weeks, so why all the tears?
I think a lot of it had to do with the days leading up to the ceremony, when I was in Colorado, shedding tears over quite a different story (the death of a 16 year old high school student named Emily Keyes who had been held hostage in her classroom and shot to death).
Maybe I needed to cry as heavily over something happy in order to somehow bring me back to center. Maybe that’s why I reacted so strongly to Molly and Jason.
The night before the wedding my husband Richard and I got into a bit of an argument. He was teasing me about how emotional I was getting… I said “In these cynical times it’s nice to have something positive to cry about.” Richard replied, “One of the reasons people are so cynical is because of weddings on television. They’ve become reality shows instead of private moments.”
I understood what he was saying, but having experienced the wedding in person, I don’t feel that way.
I met a couple that truly love each other and I think that their story provides inspiration for a lot of people, particularly when Molly said she knew Jason was "the one" after he stood by her side as her mom was dying of breast cancer two years ago. She saw what he was made of in those days, and he saw her strength, and who can’t get inspiration from that kind of story.
You know, I never thought I’d say this, but what happened in Colorado and what happened on the Today Show plaza in New York are similar: Emily Keyes loved pink, so the town covered itself in pink ribbons and balloons--it was their way of saying "we love you" and that out of all of this there will come hope. (As I mentioned in a previous blog, the family has already taken this random act of violence and urged people to perform random acts of kindness.) Then on Friday at the wedding, there was pink again…the rose petals scattered before Molly. It turns out that pink was Molly’s mother’s favorite color and Molly wanted those petals scattered as a sign of hope, and a symbol that somehow her mom was still there, blessing this union.
Cynicism aside, life is full of very dark and very bright moments. I think that for me, I’m actually less of a human being when I stop crying…
Meredith
Your posting tonite was so touching, so real. It was exactly what I have been thinking these last several weeks. Emily and the amish children such sadness. Then the wedding on today such happiness. Emotions run amuck. Can't seem to distinuish between the two. So
then run together and get all jumbled up. Crying is good its makes a human. And whatever the reason..it is real.
I admire someone who can cry...and I often think we need more people who can cry in this world. Never lose that ability Meredith!
Meredith, I love you on the TOday Show, I love your spirit, I love who you are and how that comes across to the viewers at home. We are so happy to see you every morning and I love reading your daily blog. Keep up the great work!
I loved reading this! You are doing a great job on the show.
You write beautifully.
Mer,
There's nothing wrong with crying at a wedding. People cry for alot of reasons. Sad, happy, beautiful. It makes you human!!! Love you on Today!!
It is so refreshing to "connect" with someone of your status, you reflect the emotions of my generation and try to blend them with today's world. It is so sad that children cannot attend school, so much emphasis is placed on sex, and the family as you and I know it seems lost until something as horrific as 911 occurs. I enjoy all of our "new fangled contraptions", but life was a lot more enjoyable when importance was put on morals, character, and not some stunt to see who can outdo others with hideous actions that lead to events which will scar future generations as well we who still believe in God,Family, and the Red, White, and Blue. Thanks Meredith, you are much more articulate than me, as well as when you make comments, People Listen.
hi meredith, thanks for your wonderful insights on the molly-jason wedding. it was a beautiful celebration. too bad it was preceded by some unfortunate events, which is after all, part of life. i thought you covered that emily keyes story very well. more power to you :)
I understand Meredith. My husband is an engineer and is very methodical in his way of thinking/feeling. He too makes fun of me when I get too emotional over certain things. I guess men just deal with the emotion much more differently than women do. While I cry, my hubby tries to think it through and tries to rationalize it all.
I love your correlation of Emily and Molly's mom. Gosh! What an emotional week for you! I love it that you cry and show your emotion on TV. It makes you real. It makes you who you are. Don't change that for anyone!!! :)
Meredith,
Your thoughts/perspectives are right on....I think we all need happiness and light in these sometimes dark days.
Take care.
I agree, crying is a part of being human. I wish Molly and Jason all the best for a wonderful future, and share my sincerest sympathies with Emily's family.
Meredith - you have quickly become a wonderful part of the Today show. I love to see you and Matt every morning!
Meredith,
I believe I'm speaking for a lot of people when I say, we love that you show your emotions, and are a real person.
It is such a comfort in times of distress, and a joy in times of celebration.
Never change who you are!!
Keep up the great work....
I looked through your blogs, and it seems you can't shake the image of Emily Keyes and the loss felt by those who knew and loved her. I've been through Bailey many times (50?), and like Columbine High School, the school there seems like a place as far removed from violence as is possible, and then, out of the blue, evil arrives.
Duane Morrison had no quarrel or identification with Bailey, but roads into the mountains are relatively few, so in his last days, his numb wanderings left him at the end of a drive between long and short. Platte Valley High School was the victim of just that sort of banal non-calculation.
And you seem human to me... Through the glass one can read way more inner bias than you might think.
Nobody in your line of work has ever said "cue crying" to you. You're a pro, and you may have forgotten there's humanness inherent in all we do.
Poignancy is far from our only measure of reality, or for the basis of others' need for us.
I know crying's not your final answer...
This is why I love you, Meredith! You are every part of good from everyone I know, rolled into one. You are everything I want to be as a human being. You (and Oprah!) are my role model.
It sounds like you and Richard have similar balance as a lot of marriages. I am definately the more emotional, running through the meadow with my arms waving type of gal - where my husband doesn't want any interruption during the sports report.
I think if we are true to our ownselves - we are in good company - whether it manifests itself with tears, laughter or sarcasm.
Thanks again - I am hooked on your blog!
It is your capacity to feel such sadness and great joy ....that sense of vulnerability that connects with people and gives us hope that all is well with the world even when the events around us and the cynics around us tell us otherwise.
I know the Colorado trip must of been hard to deal with but I am glad you were there to touch those people in such a caring way.
The same way that you touched Molly during the wedding. I am almost sure that in your tears and your emotions she saw her mother's love.
Thank you Meredith for being genuine and true to yourself.
Hi Meredith
You are doing a great job on Today. You have great chemistry with Matt, Al and Ann. (Please tell me you really like each other.) I am curious if you and Katie Couric have talked since it was announced you'd be joining Today.
Meredith,
Your emotions during the wedding proves you are God's child. Weddings are new beginnings and precious art in the making. Molly and Jason gave millions of people the chance to experience a new beginning in the making and millions of people will have them in their thoughts and prayers.
Do enjoy you very much on Today, but did so on the view too. It was nice to hear most journalist ask people to pray after the recent school violence, but isn't it sad that our children and grandchildren could not openly pray for their fellow classmates in school, unless it was done silently, instead of as a body for those that would choose to.
This is a wonderful topic for a post, expressing emotions in a public setting. Itâs sad that many people feel no qualms expressing anger and sarcasm, teasing and ridicule, put-downs and boasting in a public setting but turn on people who show genuine emotions publicly. Expressing grief, joy, and deeply moving experiences in public makes them very uncomfortable and theyâre likely to mock and joke at the âweaknessâ in people. Theyâre wrong.
Like many of us, you must have seen the recent political ad by a certain Senator running for reelection. In part of the ad, a father describes how the politician helped get medical treatment for his child. The ad ends with the fatherâs line, âHow do you thank someone for saving your childâs life?â in a quavering voice. I immediately started crying, too. When I later tried to describe the power of this ad to my wife, I again started sobbing. It was pretty shocking to both of us. And then she saw it.