Emotions running high

I can be a bit emotional sometimes, but usually in regards to things that are going on in my own life. I very rarely tear up when I am watching TV or listening to the radio. However, for the past few weeks I seem to be crying over everything. And I'm not talking a single dignified tear running down my cheek. I am full out sobbing over things that would have never gotten to me before.

The hubs and I have been watching the Harry Potter movies. I read all of the books, and had seen parts of the movies, but I had never sat down and watched them all. The hubs scoffed at the idea of Harry Potter for quite some time but finally watched the first movie with me when it was on the TV at a hotel that we were staying at recently. After he watched the first one he agreed that we should get the rest of them from Netflix (unfortunately, part of the compromise is that I can get the Harry Potter movies as long as every other DVD that we get is Star Trek Voyager). I usually don't cry watching movies, but as we were watching Harry Potter 4 and Harry Potter 5 there were parts where I got really choked up. Then I started thinking ahead to the other characters who die in later books/movies and I almost lost it. Poor Hedwig (yes, I am crying over a fictional owl).

The other day, on the way to work, the radio station that I listen to was playing a lot of old school songs and patriotic songs because the big fireworks display was going to be that night. The song "Proud to Be an American" came on. While I agree that this is a moving song and should be heard once a year during the 4th of July holiday weekend, I don't think it has ever made me cry. I must have been a sight to the cars passing by as I was singing along loudly with tears streaming down my face.

I understand crying when a TV show like Extreme Home Makeover comes on (although, I usually don't cry for this show) because they are making people's lives so much better, but lately I have been crying during shows that don't make sense. I have been watching Food Network Star and they hadn't seen their families in a few weeks. Before one of the challenges, however, their families made a surprise visit. I cried to the point where you get the sobby breathing, where you haven't taken a chance to catch your breath, and after you have been crying for a while you take those really fast breaths in.

I also don't usually cry when reading books. There have been a couple of exceptions (one being Little Women) but I was reading Water for Elephants yesterday. I am kind of stunned, but I don't like this book at all. I decided to read it since so many people told me that it was a good book (and when a book gets that many positive reviews from people I know I usually like it), but all of the animal abuse makes me sad. I was sobbing so hard reading it yesterday that I finally had to lay down. I am 2/3 of the way through it, so I want to finish it just because I have already invested so much time into it, but for my emotional well-being that may be ill advised.

I was talking to someone about this the other day and saying that I know it is just the pregnancy hormones, but she said it doesn't really go away. Once you become a mother the emotions continue to run high and pregnancy is kind of preparing you for that.