My Harry Potter Thoughts

Harry Potter fever is at an all time high at our house!
Last week we had to catch the latest movie on opening day. Thank goodness they agreed that they wouldn't turn into blast ended screwts if they weren't there at 12:01am to see the very first showing. They conceded that they could indeed wait until 9 am without any unfortunate transformations. The movie was great (leave the littlest wizards at home though) and now I am quickly re-reading The Half Blood Prince so I can be caught up and ready to dive into the last chapter of the Harry Potter saga. We have pre-ordered our copy, will stake our place in line early to get our magical number and return that night for the festivities. Then my sons and I will fight over who gets to read the book first. When will I learn to order more than one copy?
I have to admit I am going to be a bit sad when the series ends. It has held such a dear place in my heart and in the lives of my boys. I bought the first book when Tim was in 1st grade and home from school with a cold. We blazed through it and were hooked. We read it again during the wait for the second book, this time including Matthew. Around this time concerns were raised around the country that the book promoted witchcraft. Banning and burnings ensued. We couldn't understand it. The biggest lesson of The Sorcerer's Stone was that a mother's love is so deep that she would give her life for her child and so strong that it conquers even the darkest magic. Wow, better not let the kiddos learn that! I always figured that if your kid turned to the dark side simply by reading a book that there were deeper problems there.
Anyway, my favorite HP boy story was when we decided to throw a party to mark Mr. Potter's birthday (July 31). The invites asked the kids to bring a book to donate and stated that the party was B.Y.O.B. Bring Your Own Broom. I had improvised my own version of backyard Quiddich. We had a basketball hoop at either end of the backyard, a small ball for the Chasers to score with, the littlest guys were the Bludgers and had huge beach balls to knock the Keepers over with and I was the ref with the golden snitch in my pocket that I would throw in the air every once in awhile. As I explained the rules to them, one sweet boy looked at me and with all honesty breathed, "Mrs. Ford, can you really make us fly?" Every time I see that now strapping young 14 year old boy/man I think back to that hot summer day where innocence ruled.
Yikes! I just looked at my official Scholastic Books countdown and I have 1 day, 13 hours, 9 minutes and 4 seconds until the book is released! I better get my costume together!
Treacle tarts and pumpkin juice to you all!