When you can't have The Thing That Will Cheer You Up.

I was reading Nothing but Bonfires, and after following a series of links to some of her older posts, I wound up at this one. She'd had a bad day, culminating in the universe "closing the cafe where—out of sheer desperation for some joy to come of this day—I had planned to buy my official This Will Cheer Me Up Cookie."

I hate when this happens. I mean, obviously, I hate when I have a bad day, but it's just killer when you're having one of those days, and you latch onto something that is going to Make It All Better — maybe it's a cookie, a latte, a TV show you're looking forward to watching that night, popcorn you're looking forward to eating with that TV show, or a book or CD you're going to allow yourself to splurge on as consolation for your shitty day. And then when the time comes, that thing is cruelly snatched away from you. The bakery is closed, the lid pops off your latte and it spills everywhere, your DVR failed to record your show, you're out of popcorn, the store doesn't have that book or CD.

I invariably cry at that point. Often the tears are accompanied by lots of swearing, sometimes also by random sobs of "I miss my mom!" or, lately, "I hate this town!" Basically, I throw a tantrum. I can't help it; when the universe refuses to grant me that one ounce of goodness in an otherwise horrible day, I am incapable of taking it stride. If I'm in a public place, I will hold it together until I get to the privacy of my own home, or at least car — I don't throw tantrums in Starbucks. But once it's safe, I will cry, and I will likely get mad, too.

The Husband, being both quite male and quite British, doesn't understand these emotional outbursts. They're usually met with baffled exclamations of, "It's just a coffee!" or "So just watch it without popcorn!" But I'm sure there are plenty of women out there who understand.

Unless it's just me...

Comments

[Annika]

Oh yes. I haven't had one of those days lately, exactly, but I know just what you're talking about.

[Cindy]

I know exactly what you're talking about. It's that last bit of string that was holding it all together and once it's gone there's nothing left to do but pick up the pieces in the aftermath.

[Amy]

But it's not just coffee! I mean, any more than a life vest is just a vest. Emotionally.

[Delle]

I am British and understand totally. And whilst my husband may not cry about it, that kind of thing happens to him too.