You could try writing a short letter to her. It is sometimes easier to have a calm conversation when you are not in the same room. My girls and I have done this a few times during especially stressful times. They do this with difficult teachers too.
I definitely agree with this, and I'd make sure to tell her that you were upset about:
1. Not asking for your input about a matter that is important to you
2. You felt hurt by her laughing while you were crying and upset
It is odd to me that the adults buying the bird just stood back while you were out there in tears. Crying when upset does get easier to control with age. If you also shake (tremor, often in the arms, hands, face, etc), that is something to pay attention to. For me, it meant I have social anxiety/phobia, and there was treatment I was able to pursue for that later in life. http://socialanxietydisorder.about.com/od/symptomsofsad/a/Shaking-And-Social-Anxiety-Disorder.htm
I used to cry all the time.
I don't so much anymore, because whenever I shriek and get emotional nobody actually listens to me, so it's better to keep a straight face when in the situation and then go and sniffle into my pillow if I still feel upset.
That is not what my scout poster I had on my wall as a kid said! I think you got it wrong.
