In which Jessica feels kind of bad for picking on Ginny Weasley

[Lilac]

Jessica, I also posted this to the OT Chatter group because I thought you had some very interesting things to say.  
Jessica wrote: 
Believe it or not, I wanted to thank you for
presenting such a thorough, intelligent rebuttal to my
comments on Ginny Weasley. I always enjoy a
well-thought out argument. Though I doubt will ever
see completely eye-to-eye on this matter (And why
should we? Variety is the spice of life, right?), you
brought up some very compelling points.


Me:

<splutters a bit...regains composure again...>  Thanks!  I did work hard on that one.  

Jessica:
In fact, as I type, I'm enjoying a hearty breakfast of
crow for not consulting the canon before I ran off at
the mouth.


Me:

<giggles> Well all do that, so don't worry about it.

 

You:
And so you don't think I'm a completely heartless,
evil wench, let me share with you a thought that only
occured to me yesterday:

I suspect the reason I get so frustrated with Ginny is
because she reminds me of myself at her age. When I
look back, I always wish I'd been more assertive, more
self-assured, more outspoken. See, what I admire about
Hermione is her ability, at eleven years old, to walk
into a very foreign place and not be afraid to be
exactly who she is. Granted, she goes bit overboard
with it because of insecurity, but she knows who she
is and she doesn't compromise herself because others
might disagree. 


Me:  

I agree with you totally here!  I was more like Ginny 11-15, but overcompensated by becoming VERY Hermione-like 16-26.  In fact, when I married at 24, I was so strong early on in our marriage that we didn't have a very good newlywed experience.  However, I've learned I can be strong yet feminine, and that my husband and I are partners, but I let him be a man and I don't demasculate (is that a word?) him by being a mothering feminist telling him what to do all the time.  So I know EXACTLY what you mean here.  The older I get (Heavens, I make it sound like I'm 70...I'm actually 31) the more balanced I feel.  

You:
I'm far more like that now, but I had to go through
utter hell to get to this point. Had I gotten there
earlier, I've always thought, I would have saved
myself tons of grief and humiliation over the years.
But Hermione's a strange duck and, realistically, few
thirteen year olds possess that kind of tenacity. So I
suppose when I'm exasperated with Ginny, I'm mostly
projecting exasperation with my own 13 year old self
on to her.

Me:

<pats Jessica's shoulder soothingly>  There, there.  I understand.  I've been through some counselling, so I've had the chance to deal with my "inner child" and "inner teen" and forgive myself for my embarrassing and exasperating behavior from those years.  Maybe that's why I feel the need to defend Ginny.  I know she's going to be okay; I just know it's going to take some time.   


You:
Okay! Now that I've played Junior Psychologist, I will
respectfully bid you farewell and add thanks for
making me think.

-Jessica, who appreciates a good debate 

Me:

I can't wait to read further posts from you, Jessica.  You have a very fluent writing style, and I know there will be a subject on which we agree.  

~Lilac, who debates when she needs to to protect her "inner teen"


=====
"Oh, I'll settle down with some old story/About a boy who's just like me/Thought there was love in everything and everyone/You're so naive!/After a while they always get it/They always reach a sorry end/Still it was worth it as I turned the pages solemnly, and then/With a winning smile, the boy/With naivety succeeds/At the final moment, I cried/I always cry at endings"
- "Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying," Belle and Sebastian

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More
http://faith.yahoo.com



---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos, & more
faith.yahoo.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]