And in the end...

             For the record- since I am relatively new at this whole blogging thing, I’m not sure what direction I will take in keeping up with it. For now, I’m going to stick with what I know- my day.

               A very significant event will take place tonight at midnight. I feel as though my childhood will officially reach its end as the clock chimes twelve. While there are no handsome princes or glass slippers involved in this tale, there certainly are some good looking wizards to speak of. Yes my friends, I am describing the much anticipated release of the final film of the phenomenon that is Harry Potter.

               I have been reading these books since I was 11 years old, just like Harry as he first attends the famed school of witchcraft and wizardry, Hogwarts. Obsessed, I’ve read and reread all seven books more times than I can count. In fact, it was not uncommon for the long drives that accompanied our family vacations to include hours of listening to Jim Dale narrating one of the seven magical tales. Appropriately, the seventh book made its grand debut when I was 17, again coinciding perfectly with Harry’s story.

               You can imagine how thrilled I was to hear shortly after completing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in 2011 that Warner Brothers had a movie in the works. I remember waiting for hours, first in line with my dad, to be allowed to enter the theater on opening night. Since then I have seen almost every film at its first showing, most of which took place at midnight. I typically have a running countdown from one film to the next, but tonight will be a bittersweet affair for me. After this last and final episode of Harry’s journey, there will be nothing left to look forward to, no more midnight premiers or parties, and no more countdowns. I’m looking forward to the premier nonetheless, I’ve just made a mental note to bring a box of tissues!

               To simultaneously celebrate and mourn the premier of the end of such a wonderful part of my childhood, I will watch the midnight showing dressed in my Gryffindor finest, light-up wand and all. I’m contemplating enjoying a mug or two of foaming butterbeer beforehand but I’ll fly that broom when I come to it. Most of all, I’ll be wishing I were enjoying the company of my best friend and fellow Harry fanatic, Jill, who is out of town for this one.

Well, only a few hours to go!!!