The faint whisper of love caught my attention today and it’s on rare occasions like these that my feelings find ink. I had decided to see ‘Love Actually’ (for the third time) and was reminded of that petty emotion that is usually ignored, tossed around, talked about, deeply felt and sometimes refused to be acknowledged by my very full but slightly stale heart. The 2003 movie had eight couples dealing with love during Christmas time and I was particularly drawn to Daniel, Sam and his Joanna.
Daniel: Option One: ask her out.
Sam: Impossible.
Daniel: Fair enough. Option Two: become her friend.
Sam: She’s the most popular girl in school and she hates boys.
Daniel: Okay. Option Three: kidnap her and keep her tied up in your room until she agrees to marry you.
Sam: It’s a route I’ve considered.
Daniel: And quite rightly rejected on the grounds of…
Sam: Hygiene.
Daniel: You know, Sammy, I’m sure she’s unique and extraordinary, but… the general wisdom is that, in the end, there isn’t just one person for each of us.
Sam: There was for Kate and Leo. There was for you. There is for me.
Sam: She’s “the one”.
Daniel: Fair enough.
Sam’s innocent love without fear of consequence left me a little envious this time. I’ve been a cynic of that dirty little trick of the heart for a while now. My success rate when it comes to guarding this tender organ in the chest is about 97%. I’ve also been known to give out free advice to all who come forth with an offer of love, to strongly reconsider their investment in me. It’s quite an achievement yes, but now I don’t believe I was destined for a lifetime of solitude. Yes, love still sounds like a crazy stunt in an action movie, worthy of the courageous, but the wise Sam has left me feeling inadequate. It’s not because it’s ‘that time of the year’ but because he has quietly sparked a reminder of that childlike quality of altruistic love that had long ago touched my soul. The kind that leaves you vulnerable but allows you to overlook imperfections –the kind of love that doesn’t quite see obstacles, but the expansion of the human experience. It’s easy to be imprinted with an imitation of love but it’s deeply dissatisfying to have to live a lifetime with it. Maybe sometimes it takes a movie and St. Valentine to remind us that we were probably designed to love, maybe not unconditionally but at least so we can live extraordinary lives.
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This is 350 days too early for the next year Val’s but will remember it:)
I sometimes feel that the moment I feel very vulnerable to a person is the moment I think I am and will be truly and madly in love. Nice post Platform 13. And, I love that movie too.
Watch out! There are some wannabe Brits who masquerade as editors and readers. They might mistake you for one
Thanks Rashmi. Love, or the hope of it requires 350 days of preparation… don’t you think?
So better early than never. Being vulnerable is scary s***. But then something has to shake us from the lethargy of being self-involved.
“It’s quite an achievement yes, but now I don’t believe I was destined for a lifetime of solitude.”
I wish I could say it with as much confidence.
It was a good read, Platform 13.
Thanks Lady Jughead.
(Gosh! that animal song from 0.5 is still ringing in my head).
Solitude is great, but a lifetime of putting bread on the table just for myself is a little unnerving. Sure, love takes hostages but at least it makes one part of a more revelatory and adventurous story.
It’s a chunky number, isn’t it? That song?
I think the moment you’re okay with being alone is when you’re ready to be with someone, cuz then you won’t be with someone just to beat the loneliness. (At least that’s what I think. I could be wrong.)
As far as love goes, I have very mixed feelings about the whole thing. :-/