THE END IS NEAR...
I am back from a long, much-needed vacation. I can't say that I feel rested. It always seems that I need another few days to recoup from my 'relaxation.' But I digress. The story of my trip will come in another blog. This blog is about the impending conclusion to a chapter of my life that seems to have lasted an eternity. I speak, of course, about Harry Potter. Those of you who have enjoyed the journey as I have, I can see the nod and smile that greets these words. To the rest of you, the best way I can describe my feelings is to ask you to think of something (a book, movie, or even best friend) that you held dear and knew was about to end. I do have the ability to step outside of this fanaticism(?) and see how it must look to the uninitiated, so I thought I might try to explain what the series has meant to me over the past several years.
I started reading Harry late, thanks to prodding by my father. I was home on a visit and he told me I should take the first volume and read it during the week I was there. I explained that I am a slow reader and doubted that I wouldn't be able to finish it. He told me that I might be surprised and urged me to give it a try. To my astonishment, it took me only four days to finish it. For those of you who don't know, the 'first year' is the shortest of the series. I couldn't get enough of it. As soon as I got back from my trip, I bought the first, second, and third books and rushed through the latter two. I was terminally hooked. When the fourth came out, I devoured it as well. I hadn't read like this since I was young. In fact, I thank Ms. Rowling for my new-found love of reading. In between reading the Potter books, I found other authors that I have enjoyed just as much.
While reading the fifth book, I experienced something that had never happened to me before. After reading the climax, I became so emotional that I had to put the book down. I was actually sobbing because of what had been written on those pages. As I wiped away the tears, I began to laugh at myself. "Why am I crying? It's only a book." These words did nothing to calm me, so I welcomed the emotions that came and, when I was able, finished the book. Never before (and I don't think ever again) have I had such a reaction to the written word. Despite the pause, I still read the nearly 900 pages in only 3 days! And I actually slowed down to make it last.
So how do I feel as I face the end of an era? I await this final book with both exhilaration and trepidation. On one hand, I want to know what will happen to these fictitious people who I often feel closer to than flesh and blood people I've known. Will Harry survive the inevitable final battle? Will Ron and Hermione? And what about Hagrid, Ginny, Neville, the Weasley twins? Will they all be by his side to help him? Will Snape and Draco fight against Harry? Will Harry find vengeance for all he has lost? Will Harry and Ginny get back together? And will Ron and Hermione finally admit their feelings for each other? They had better or I will be pissed. Well, I'll have to wait another few days to find out. Unfortunately I have to work the Midnight party, so I won't be able to get my copy until Saturday afternoon and won't start reading it until Sunday at least. The shame is that I just borrowed a book from work that I really want to read. It's short, so I'm hoping I can finish it before I have to start reading The Deathly Hallows. To be honest, I'm not in a great hurry to read it. Once I finish that last sentence, it will be over forever. And that's not something that I look forward to at all. The only reason why I won't put it off for long is because it will become impossible to avoid hearing what happens. As it is, I may not go online for a while. So if there are no new entries, don't worry or become discouraged.
I just want the joy of Mr. Potter to last a little longer.
I started reading Harry late, thanks to prodding by my father. I was home on a visit and he told me I should take the first volume and read it during the week I was there. I explained that I am a slow reader and doubted that I wouldn't be able to finish it. He told me that I might be surprised and urged me to give it a try. To my astonishment, it took me only four days to finish it. For those of you who don't know, the 'first year' is the shortest of the series. I couldn't get enough of it. As soon as I got back from my trip, I bought the first, second, and third books and rushed through the latter two. I was terminally hooked. When the fourth came out, I devoured it as well. I hadn't read like this since I was young. In fact, I thank Ms. Rowling for my new-found love of reading. In between reading the Potter books, I found other authors that I have enjoyed just as much.
While reading the fifth book, I experienced something that had never happened to me before. After reading the climax, I became so emotional that I had to put the book down. I was actually sobbing because of what had been written on those pages. As I wiped away the tears, I began to laugh at myself. "Why am I crying? It's only a book." These words did nothing to calm me, so I welcomed the emotions that came and, when I was able, finished the book. Never before (and I don't think ever again) have I had such a reaction to the written word. Despite the pause, I still read the nearly 900 pages in only 3 days! And I actually slowed down to make it last.
So how do I feel as I face the end of an era? I await this final book with both exhilaration and trepidation. On one hand, I want to know what will happen to these fictitious people who I often feel closer to than flesh and blood people I've known. Will Harry survive the inevitable final battle? Will Ron and Hermione? And what about Hagrid, Ginny, Neville, the Weasley twins? Will they all be by his side to help him? Will Snape and Draco fight against Harry? Will Harry find vengeance for all he has lost? Will Harry and Ginny get back together? And will Ron and Hermione finally admit their feelings for each other? They had better or I will be pissed. Well, I'll have to wait another few days to find out. Unfortunately I have to work the Midnight party, so I won't be able to get my copy until Saturday afternoon and won't start reading it until Sunday at least. The shame is that I just borrowed a book from work that I really want to read. It's short, so I'm hoping I can finish it before I have to start reading The Deathly Hallows. To be honest, I'm not in a great hurry to read it. Once I finish that last sentence, it will be over forever. And that's not something that I look forward to at all. The only reason why I won't put it off for long is because it will become impossible to avoid hearing what happens. As it is, I may not go online for a while. So if there are no new entries, don't worry or become discouraged.
I just want the joy of Mr. Potter to last a little longer.
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