I miss Harry Potter.
Can you miss someone who isn’t real? Definitely. We miss a good book when it finishes, a favorite TV series when it’s over, and a good movie when the credits roll. When the final Harry Potter book came out- my daughter and I were in one of the long lines that were around the country and around the world to buy the book as soon as it went on sale. Was Snape good or bad? Was Dumbledore still alive? Who was going to die? Was Harry going to die? Did it matter if a fictional character died? All one had to do was see the faces and listen to the conversations of those in line to see that it DID matter. A LOT!
I began the journey with Harry Potter with my oldest son. His great grandma got him the book when he was 9- and we read it together. The book was so easy to read, you immediately loved Harry- the little boy who was unloved, neglected and abused and who had been told all his life that he was both a disappointment and an embarrassment, just by being who he was. At age eleven, he discovered that not only was he a special boy, in some ways he was the most special person in a magical world of wonders where he did belong and where he was desperately wanted and valued. What a wonderful message—that we can be more important and valuable than we have ever dreamed. Add to this great imagination, clever humor, overflowing adventure, layers of mystery, and good triumphing over evil and you’ve got a hell of a story.
We followed Harry through the years, and then my daughter became interested- unfortunately more in the movies than the books. We read the first one together, and then she just was interested in the movies. But she still came to the midnight book sales with us- and saw her first midnight movie premiere last year- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. Even then I hadn't grasped that the end of an era was looming.She is now a "Potter Head" and is trying to read all the books. Better late than never!
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| Wizard Dorks! |
As we waited in the crowded theater for the movie to start- we were laughing and loving all of the costumes. From Harry to Fawkes- the fans showed up in all their Potter glory to say goodbye to this boy who we have watched grow into a man. We had our wands, as did so many others and all through the theater you could here people jinxing each other. It was such an amazing spectacle- and that my almost 13 year old daughter was enjoying it with me made it that much more special. Then to top it off- my oldest showed up at the theater. I remembered taking him to the first movie- dressed up as little Harry...the circle was complete, we began together- and ended together. It was beautiful.
We cheered, and clapped, and hollered at various scenes through the movie and we cried when our favorite characters died. There was a movement on Twitter that said as soon as the credits began to roll- raise your wand and say "Mischief Managed" ( if you have not read the books- then you don't know what the Marauders Map is and all of this is lost on you anyway) And that is just what we did....and then cried like babies.
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| Look how they changed |
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