Thankful Day 10

Today I'm thankful for Harry Potter.  I could go broad and say I'm thankful for books or movies . . . but these specific books (and movies . . . the books are better but I still love the movies) meant a lot to me.  The characters taught me a lot about people and myself.  They weren't perfect, but none of us are.  The way J.K. Rowling was able to craft these stories and characters over 7 books and have it all make sense is still amazing to me.  I've read the series all the way through 3 times (and will probably start my 4th soon . . . I've had a hankering) and have watched the movies more times than I can count.

They all have memories associated with them that I enjoy too.  I can remember what was going on in my life when the books or movies came out.  I read Prisoner of Azkaban while visiting my brother and his family one summer.  My niece had it and we talked about it.  The first movie came out not long after I started college and several of us went to see it.  When Half Blood Prince came out I was a counselor at Girl Scout camp and had just graduated from college.  I told my girls who came in that they were not to talk about Harry Potter in my presence.  I had it waiting at home but didn't want to bring it to camp incase it got rained on or something.  I read it in a weekend between sessions.  The Order of the Phoenix movie came out 3 days before Adam and I got married.  We took a group of family and friends to see it and I will always associate it a bit with that wonderful time in my life.  Deathly Hallows book came out a couple weeks after we got married.  Adam was at Ft. Campbell and I was at my parents' house waiting for our housing to come through.  The series was ending as my new life was starting.  For the final movie I had a festivus at my house with several friends.  We made butter beer and various themed snacks, watched all the movies, and then went to the midnight showing.    It was also Adam and my anniversary.

They have also been a way for me to bond with others.  Discovering I have this love in common with several people has enhanced or sparked relationships.  When my best friend's son was born and I went up to help the first week the movies were always playing in the background.  While I was in the hospital Adam brought them in and we watched them.  I also watched them once we got home.  They have always given me a sense of home and comfort.

Those of us who went to the midnight showing of the last movie.  My SIL made my Gryffindor robes and my wand.   

So thank you J.K. Rowling for your imagination and such a wonderful series.  I look forward to sharing them with my children.  Now to get under my Harry Potter snuggie and either start reading Sorcerer's Stone or watching the movie . . . whichever sounds best on this chilly evening.

My HP snuggie.  Super comfy and stylish.