Smiling Through Irish Heartbreak
Oscar Wilde said, “The heart was meant to be broken.”
He should know. He was Irish.
Image above inspired by robert-v-ruggiero-JR-bJYBBDbk-unsplash.jpg and kelly-sikkema-E8H76nY1v6Q-unsplash.jpg
Oscar Wilde said, “The heart was meant to be broken.”
He should know. He was Irish.
They say a little heartbreak never hurt anybody.
Eventually, heartbreak is supposed to make you stronger. Wiser. Maybe even better.
The Irish know heartbreak. They take it on their chins. Wear it on their sleeves.
They also know how to give it.
The heartbreak born of hurt from my first true love - an Irishman - is a heartbreak I’ll never get over. It nearly killed me.
My big heartbreak was Paudie O’Connor.
I adored Paud. He was magical.
When I first met Paudie, he bowled me over with those big, ocean-blue eyes. That oval shaped face, framed by a head full of golden-brown curls. A smile that could knock you over with its brilliance and warmth — a smile that said, “I know you already. I feel what you feel. I believe what you believe. We are one, you and I.”
I have to admit this … for me, it was love at first sight.
~Sigh~
Oh, God. That smile of his …
According to William Arthur Ward, “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.”
That was Paudie. He was universally kind. A friend to everyone. A true gentleman.
The master of the smile.
And utterly irresistible to me.
I loved him.
Fiercely. Wildly. Desperately.
And he loved me too.
We were so, so good together.
While it lasted.
I remember that when we spoke on the phone years ago, remembering what it was like when we were young and in love, Paudie said to me, in his deep, dark, barrel of whiskey voice … ““Twas good, wasn’t it, Deb?”
And I replied, “Yes, it was, Paud. It was very good.”
I discuss this in depth in my book, Searching for Danny Boy: Falling in Love with Ireland and Basketball Legend, Paudie O’Connor.
But I’m sharing it with you now because, after all - this is the day before Valentine’s Day.
And I miss those days with Paudie.
I miss that smile.
I’m old now, but I still long for that kind of dangerous, hungry love we shared when we were young. That “Irish Heartbreak” I suffered was all worth it, though. Even though it wounded me deeply.
In the end - no matter how much it hurts - Love is always, always worth it.
So, on this day before Valentine’s Day, I leave you with the words of Dr. Suess (of all people!) …
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
~Read more about my joyous love and deep heartbreak in Searching for Danny Boy: Falling in Love with Ireland and Basketball Legend, Paudie O’Connor when it comes out March 17, 2026 - Saint Patrick’s Day!~
(You’ll find Searching for Danny boy at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Apple Books. Or ask your favorite bookstore to order it for you.)
In the meantime … Smile.
Share the love.
Blow someone a kiss.
You’ll thank yourself later.