Epic
Lots of things have happened recently in our world. And I want to write about them, but I have to do this now. I have to write about this now because it is all still so fresh and important and a little overwhelming at the moment.
I was able to see the final installment of the Harry Potter series today.
I know, you think this is silly.
To me, it is not.
Harry Potter has been with me since the spring of 2000. I was a freshman in college, spending a weekend out of the dorms in my Aunt and Uncle’s house. I was the only one at home that weekend and I remember being so viciously tired and bereft. My Mom had recently moved out of my childhood home and away from all of the comforts of my home town. To say I was not handling it well is an understatement. I was bitter for a lot of reasons I won’t go into here, but it had a lot to do with being taken out of my home.
This book was sent to me by God and I am not kidding. God gives us messages and sends us comfort through amazing things and I truly believe that Harry Potter was put into my hands and this time only though divine intervention.
I remember standing in the Chapter 11 bookstore in the small town I went to college in. I perused my usual trashy romance novels and briefly skimmed the YA section. At the time YA consisted of Lurlene McDaniel (who I still hold a special place for), LJ Smith (who I introduced several of my students to, years later) and occasionally Sweet Valley High: College Years. This particular day I saw a paperback of Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. I brought it home with me because I’d heard some of the hype surrounding them.
My life was changed.
I know this sounds dramatic, but it’s true. I DEVOURED the next four books over the course of the next six months or so. I remember finishing Goblet of Fire over Thanksgiving break my sophomore year.
Then I had to wait.
During the time we had a two movies released before Order of the Phoenix was released shortly after my senior year of college.
Harry Potter stood by me during some extremely trying times in my life. The books were the best form of escape I could think of. My family life went into upheaval shortly after I graduated college and it was reading and re-reading book five that kept me from losing not only my cool, but my self.
In the over 10 years that Harry Potter has been in my life a lot of things have changed. My family life is much more stable and safe. I am married to a man who loves me enough to let me go to midnight showings, to go with me to book releases and who is patient enough to listen to me occasionally wax philosophically about the books (there really are some fantastic metaphors for Jesus in them. Honest. I’ve discussed it with seminary graduates). He has no interest in them whatsoever. Between me reading the last book and the release of this last movie I have become a mother. Something that has changed the way I read these books and see this story.
I’ve made incredible friends through this series. Alyssa, Patty and Amy, you are part of this story and I’m so grateful to you.
Emily Grace, I still wish I had the voicemail you left me after you finished Deathly Hallows.
Today I ugly-cried through the last 45 minutes or so of the movie. It’s the same part that made me ugly-cry during the book.
I am so grateful that I got to be a part of a bigger story.
