AVADA KADAVRA~ Saying Goodbye

This week marks the end of something that I hold near and dear to my heart.  The end of the love affair I've had with the boy beneath the stairs.  The end of my not so silent obsession with finding a way to NOT be a muggle anymore. The end of the sensation I feel knowing that a new one is coming out.  Yes, ladies and gentleman, this week marks the end of Harry Potter.

Let me first start with a small ode to why I love Harry Potter in the first place 

*Que Harry Potter Music NOW*

When I first heard the rave about this book I was immediately intrigued.  I, who loved the Wizard of Oz and basically anything to do with magic, stole the book from my cousin (who we were living with at the time because we were so broke) and read until she came in and snatched it away from me.  Later that day, I begged my parents to buy me the book so I could have it for my very own.  I know what you're thinking, "why didn't you go to the library" well I do not like my books to have a crease in the Spine.  DONT JUDGE ME.  So I was content to wait until we had enough money to spare on my little obsession.  The wait didn't last long and soon I was sitting at the table pounding through Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone in 3 hours.

Enter Crackheadish Obsession--

JK Rowling had definitely found a new cult follower at that point.  I was entranced.  I don't just love it because of the story, but the literary beauty of it as well.  Even back then at the tender age of 14 I had a real respect for the craft of writing.  Not only was the story brilliant and the characters so easy to connect with, Rowling had created an entire world within a world.  The magical world had Classism (mudblood), a different colloquial language, a hierarchy or power, and so many other things that made one actually believe that there really was a Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  This was easy because most of the followers really wanted it to exist anyway.  I also love that people actually die in the books.  I know that might sound ridiculous, but in real life people die.  It hurts and it sucks but the reality of the series was something else that kept me coming back.

I was able to lose myself in the books at a time when things were not going so well in my real like.  We had just moved to Charlotte and out of my cousins house, money was tight, and stress levels were high.  I guess you could say the books helped me get away from what was happening in my real life.  My parents, who always supported my book or movie obsessions, knew how much I loved it.  For Christmas that year, even though money was tight, I got Harry Potter 2 AND 3!  And yes, I cried.  No matter what, my parents always sacrificed to try to make sure I got the things I wanted, and I guess it helped that it didn't take much to make me happy.  A couple of books and some pretty pens and I am golden.

And that feeling never went away.  With every new book or new movie, I get that intense emotional rush.  Not just a rush of excitement, but also the knowledge of what it stood for all this time.  It was an escape; a place that I could lose myself.  I am the kind of person who feels what characters feel in movies and books.  I get completely invested.  I cry when they are sad, and my heart flutters when they are happy, and I can vividly see the world as they do (which is why I like books better).  It was something I could look forward to.

So this weekend will be the last time I feel that way.  The last book hurt, but at least I still had the rest of the movies.  This is the last movie.  The last time I will stay up all night and get inline for the 12am showing.  The last time I think about what costumes to wear to the movie.  Its Bittersweet but I am excited about letting go.  Its been a wonderful 12 years and I can say that I am ready to say goodbye.  Thank you JK Rowling for giving me friends in a new world, excitement, heartache, and keeping me young.  After all, who even thought I would see the last movie in ENGLAND!  What a great life I lead!

And yes... I'm crying right now...