“You are protected, in short, by your ability to love.” – Albus Dumbledore
J.K. Rowling
A Keeping It Real Post
Last’s week’s post was a bit heavy. Thanks for all the comments and private messages about how it resonated with you. Sharing one’s personal story can be a scary and vulnerable thing, but suicide is a topic that needs to be addressed and addressed often. I wanted to lighten things up this week, and I couldn’t think of a better way to do that than with a Potter-themed post.
If you didn’t already know I was a Potterhead, well now you do. I love being able to throw in a Harry Potter reference as much as I love being able to inject, “that’s what he said,” into any conversation with my friends. What can I say? I’m eclectic like that. And I’ve been saving this post for September 19th, Hermione Granger‘s birthday.
Where Does This Story Begin?
I meet a lot of people in my travels. On my last trip to Belfast, a new acquaintance asked me a strangely personal question. “When was the last time you fell in love?” Okay, we were at a pub, and maybe it was just an inappropriate pick-up line, but since I couldn’t petrificus totalus him, it made me think.
I Fall In Love Every Day
Yep, I’m that girl. Call me Luna Lovegood. I wear my heart on my sleeve, and I fall in love every day. And I don’t need a love potion to do it. Each morning I fall in love with the sunrise, the flowers, the cute dogs I meet, and all of my friends and family. I’ve been known to profess my love for amazing cups of coffee and beautiful whisk(e)y drams. I constantly fall in love with the potential in everyone and everything.
Wait. That’s not what Pub Guy meant? Geez. You people are no fun.
Undetectable Extension Charm
Love, after losing your spouse, can be a tricky business. And there’s no easy way to Alohomora our hearts back open to love. But here’s the deal. Our hearts, just like Hermione’s super cool beaded bag, are spelled with undetectable extension charms. It’s the magic of being human.
I will always love D, and he’ll always have a special place in my heart. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room in my heart for new love. We don’t erase someone out of our hearts just because they aren’t in our lives now. Love isn’t a finite resource. Thank goodness!
What Was the Answer?
So, Pub Guy, I have fallen in love since I became a W. More than once, even. As for the last time, that’s none of your business. After losing someone you love, it’s easy to avoid the risk of that pain again. But just because things don’t work out doesn’t mean we should put our hearts on lockdown. And that’s part of the fun. Besides, if we could Accio THE ONE, my widow dating stand-up comedy bit would be a lot less funny.
To my W sisters, keep letting your hearts grow. I am. And my extension charm is very detectable.
XOXO,
The Wandering Widow
Live Now. Dream Big. Love Fierce.
P.S. Happy Birthday to the one and only Hermione Granger.