2 posts tagged “harry potter”
I thought I would look forward to writing this blog, after all the excitement for this day has been building since July 16, 2005. Instead I found myself putting it off and not for my usual reasons of procrastination but because I haven't wanted to face up that at midnight the Harry Potter series will "conclude". A bittersweet moment for sure!
I know that there are some people ( many of you close friends) that wont understand the emotion behind this post and will chalk it up to me just being on the Harry Potter band wagon. But let me tell you that my family and I were fans of Harry long before the band wagon was even built. In fact we were probably towards the front of the line waiting on the band wagon to arrive.
You see this is about much more than a book, more than the completion of a series. As a book lover and a person that believes the world still possess "magical qualities", I have so many fond memories that surround Harry Potter.
I remember the first time I was introduced to Harry. My youngest sister had just finished first grade and was spending a week with me in my little pink cottage. We were snuggled up in bed and she had brought Prisoner of Azkaban to read as a bed time story. I can still picture her baby face teaching me to how to pronounce "Hermoine" and her mock frustration when it took me forever to get it right. Although she was in the middle of the book, the story instantly drew me in. And as soon as she feel asleep, I retreated to the living room and read the entire book that night.
I quickly went back and read the first two books and then skipped back to Goblet of Fire which is still my favorite of the series. I bought a used copy that ended up being one of the orginals where the Prior Incantatem is written in the wrong order for James and Lily This book is battle scarred for sure. Its hard to hold a 800 page hardback book while taking a bubble bath okay?
I remember the long wait between Goblet of Fire and Order of the Pheonix, making predictions with my family as to what would happen. Driving down from memphis to attend the release party with them...rushing home to read the first few chapters together. And then repeating the same process for Half Blood Prince.
A few days before the release of Half Blood Prince, I was at a small bookstore in Memphis.. they had a small bathroom in the stockroom that I had used before. But on this day an employee followed me to the stockroom and virtually into the bathroom which i found odd and a bit distrubing. But as i was walking out I saw the boxes of Half Blood Prince stacked up against the wall and suddenly released why I had an escort. I laughed and sort of lunged towards the stacks and asked what would happen if I made a run for the boxes. The employee didnt find this amusing at all saying that he didnt want to have to knock me cold to the floor. I guess I wasnt the first customer to have this thought.
I remember finally getting the book ( the legal way) and reading the part where Snape kills Dumbledore... I literally threw the book across the room in shock, outrage and sorrow. Snape was/is (?) one of my favorite characters, but I think that has more to do with my obsession of Mr. Rickman.
Besides the personla memories that are attached to the books, I love that JK has taught children to read again. I have worked with countless children that read 3 or 4 grades below their level, children that dread picking up a book, children that are mentally ill, children that have been abused and abandonded, teens that are juvenile deliquents. And I have watched so many of them read and love Harry Potter. The first group of children I read Sorcers Stone too were a group of children that a school labeled as problem students. The loved the book so much, that soon they were taking turns reading outloud and discussing the story. So many of these children shared similarities with Harry and it was amazing to watch them blossom just from reading the books.
I love the lessons in the story. The courageous stand for what is good and right in the world. That "it matters not what someone is born but what they grow up to be" and that "it is our choices that show what we are far more than our abilities" I love the friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermoine. And I love the elements of magic. I truly belive that all children deserve to experience something "magical" while they are growing up even if it is only in their own imagination.
Clearly I have a great love and appreciation for these books so I anticpated being thrilled about tonight. And yet I am less than 12 hours away from having a copy in my hand and that makes me more sad than excited. ( of course I am an emotional sap that doesnt do so well with endings) But it just feels strange to know that I and the rest of the literary world will soon learn the fate of Harry Potter. We'll know who survives and which of our beloved characters will die. So tonight there is one final Harry Potter book party with the family...but it feels nothing like the celebrations of the past. I suspect that my mood will change while waiting in line and that some excitement will build, but at this moment I dont want to turn the first page, because then there will be no turning back.
I could talk about this all day, well at least until midnight tonight. So I will end by saying thanks to Ms. Rowling for sharing this wonderful story with the world. I dearly hope that I am still as fond of you in a few days!!
Happy Reading dear Harry Potter fans!
This week I love
* that my niece is a whiz on the computer already. She just turned 3 but she can already open paint and draw pictures, type her whole alphabet and numbers in order and should she happen to make a mistake she figured out how to press backspace and correct it! She also can play swirls by herself and is quite fond of my font collection.
*JK Rowling. I have been re reading all the Harry Potter books in celebration of Deathly Hallows. I figure I better post this now. I have concerns I may not be so fond of her come July 22nd or 23rd.
* people that are willing to take chance & bend their own "rules" for that I am grateful.
* that I managed a week of no Dr. Pepper or Ginger Ale- yes I fell off the " no cokes/soda/whatever you want to call it wagon... AGAIN!
* www.blessthischick.com- see a few posts down and my icon above. I have spent lots of time making "little chicks" this week when I was feeling down!
* saying goodbye to year 30- I have grown and learned so much this year. In so many ways its been a great year, and in so many ways its been long and trying. But still better than 29 was. Here's to turning 31 and to receiving early birthday presents.
The coffee pot is from Heather- no better gift for someone who loves hello kitty and coffee as much as me!! The perfume was my treat to myself. ( Thanks TJ Maxx for having an a MARC JACOBS gift set in perfect condition and clearanced to less than 20 bucks!! )
What are you loving today?
