Saturday, July 11, 2009

'Time is Making Fools of us Again

Time is making fools of us again.
Hey there readers. Prongs here bringing you what I hope you will find to be a very special post. As I am sure those of you who are not living under a rock know, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince comes out in theaters next week. In case you are not living under a rock, but maybe had one fall on your head... you shouldn't be surprised to hear that Padfoot and I are borderline obsessed with the series. So we were trying to think of something special to put up before the movie came out. Hopefuly you will enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Below you will find a letter/note I wrote the day before the last Harry Potter book came out. Now I know not every one out there is crazy obsessive like we tend to be, but at least for a large majority of my generation... Harry Potter has given us quite a few memories to hold on to. This note was the best way I could think of to word every thing I felt when the series came to an end. I know you will not get the reference to my friends in the letters, but hopefully the names will be interchangable with some of your own friends who have been a big part of your lives as well.
Hope you enjoy it, and look for a special movie post up next week!
Have a magical weekend everyone!


"It is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness... Nothing More"
This quote has been haunting my thoughts for the past couple of weeks, as the final book of Harry Potter has approched. It is the unkown that is most bothering me about the upcoming book opening. The unkown fate of the character that I have come to know and love, the unknown feeling of having finished a story that has been such a crutial part of my life, and the unknown 'Harry Potter-less' future that is now quickly approaching.

For the past 9 or so years I have laughed, cried, sobbed, and even thrown things over the series Harry Potter by J.K Rowling. When I first began the books I was quite young and knew only that the story I was reading, was one that made me feel comfortable and sparked my imagination, something I think most authors hope to accomplish in children. Throught the 7 books I have become incomparably attactched the main characters, dreaming and hoping with them, even holding my breath in times of their crisis. The happiness and the loss that they felt, I felt as well...as did thousands of readers all across the world. Even though it has never been my burden to rid the world of Lord Voldermort, I have felt the tradgedy of being a teenager, a time that Harry and his books definitaly helped me though. The end of this book, and of Harry Potters story honestly has brought forth the feelings of loosing a best friend. One that I have shared so much time with and who will be greatly missed.

These characters have not only provided me with empathy twords their stories, but have given me countless stories of my own to tell. I will never forget watching the 3rd movie with Abby and giggling about 'Harry looking hot when he hides behind pumpkins.' J.K. Rowling has as also been cause for countless hours of debate and talk amoungst my best friends. Some of the best nights that I can rember have involded sitting around Kyle's hot tub untill 3 in the moring discussing past and future books and reminising over our similar loves. Or going to midnight book openings running around with all of the other fans, and not having a care in the world. The bond between Harry and his friends has truly only strengthend the love and connection that I feel for my own real friends. It is sad to think that there will never be a time again when I can speculate and dream with them about what lies ahead for our hero. For all of these moments, I am truly thankful.

Finally, the ending of this series is not only the ending of a great piece of literary history, it also (for myself) comes with a heavy burden of something even greater ending. The ending of a story that has been such a large part of my childhood, is also the marker of the ending of that childhood. I must now look forward to my life with out these books, and with out the comfort of the security that I had when I was young. I am soon to be a sophmore in college, and it is time for myself and Harry Potter to grow up and face the real world outside of our friends and familys. It is breaking my heart, but I really do know that now is a good time for the book to be coming to an end."Youth cannot know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young" Let us never forget what it was like to be young and invincable. The character that I have grown up with is now grown, and so am I. Scary isn't it?

I will close with saying thank you to all of those friends who have made these last few years with Harry so memorable. To any one who thinks that these stories are just childish tales and we are stupid to think any more, it is for you that I feel sorry.
Ill leave you with some wise words of Dumbledor,
"From this point forth, we shall be leaving the firm foundation of fact and journeying together through the murky marshes of memory into thickets of wildest guesswork."


Time is making fools of us again.

18 comments:

  1. OK, you're not going to believe this...I've only read the 1st Harry Potter book. And that was back in 2000 or so. I think it's time for me to get on the bandwagon!

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  2. Um....YES YES I THINK IT IS. The best thing about HP is that it is amazing at any age. For me, I was the exact same age as Harry when the books started, and was right about the same age when they finished. It was literally like having a friend growing up with me. However, every adult, child, dog? that I knew that has read the books has loved them. As the books progress in time, they become much more mature and thoughtful making it a fantastic read at any age. Trust me once you get into them, you won't be dissapointed!

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  3. What a beautiful and heartfelt letter! Your sentiments echo many of us and your use of quotes, just spectacular! I love this, ""Youth cannot know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young." So true!
    Have a Wonderful and Magical Weekend!
    xox

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  4. I loved reading this. I remember my coworker's little boy coming into the office clutching Harry Potter. He excitedly talked about each book as he got them. He grew up on them. Now he is a college junior. Crazy. :) I read them in my 30s. You are right. They are great for any age.

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  5. I started reading the series last November, and finished them up in January. Then I even persuaded my husband who doesn't like to read to read all of them, too.

    It is always sad for me to come to the end of a good book (and especially a great series like Harry Potter). I almost wanted to hold off on Deathly Hallows for awhile to savor it, but of course, I couldn't wait to read the book.

    I'm ready to buy the whole series and read them all over again.

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  6. I loved every second of Harry Potter, waiting for a new book to come out, reading the book in a single night, waiting two (or 3 like with OftP!) years for a new book. And now the movies is all I have to look forward to. When Deathly Hallows came out my husband took me and our fam on a trip to England and Scotland. I'll never forget it...
    And now my 8 year old is reading furiously. He finished OotP last night, and he's almost done with HBP. It's the first time he'll watch an HP movie after having read the book.
    I'm reading HP for the first time vicariously through my son. Every time he laughs I wonder what part he is at. And now, he locked himself in the closet. You see, it's the end of #6 he's reading. I remember how I felt the first time I read it.
    Long live Harry Potter, the boy who lived, and JK Rowling. I don't know how I survived childhood without HP! And I'm clutching my midnight show ticket for Tuesday night! What a wonderful feeling!

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  7. Great letter! I love your blog! I am a HUGE addict as well. I have read every book twice and am hoping to get The Deathly Hollows read one once more before Tuesday night opening - tickets to the midnight showing here of course!!!

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  8. Hey, I'm seeing it on Thursday SO EXCITED!!!

    I was wondering whether you would be interested in a book challenge of mine, check it out:

    http://pizzasbookdiscussion.blogspot.com/2009/07/august-reading-challenge.html

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  9. Great Blogging Please come pick up your award at my blog =)

    http://thebookwars.blogspot.com/2009/07/kreativ-blog-award.html

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  10. I feel like just about the only bookworm on the planet who never got into Harry Potter. I do, however, feel the same way about Star Trek!

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  11. It is wonderful to hear all of these stories whether you have an attachment to the series or not. Having any kind of connection to literature is a magical thing, and for me Harry Potter happens to be the mosttt magical (probably has something to do with all the magic in it haha)

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  12. Its wounderful story and i'm waiting of 15th JUly.

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  13. What a beautiful tribute to the books that have marked so many lives. I love hearing why certain books touch certain lives - I can certainly understand why Harry touched yours. Personally, I've read the series through several times, and each time cry in the same places. Good stuff!

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  14. Oh gosh I cry as well!! I am just not even ready for this movie I know I am going to sob through the whole thing.

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  15. I've been enjoying every minute of reading the series, and I have to admit that I felt extremely empty when I turned the last page...

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  16. So I went lastnight, and yes it was sad at the end, but I actually found this to be the funniest HP yet. I loved it! Taking my son to see it this weekend.

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  17. @ Young. Oh yes I know the feeling. After I finished the 7th one (the day after it came out) I basically layed in bed for 2 days being depressed more than I thought was possible. I felt very empty knowing there would be no more in store. Have no idea how I am going to feel when the movies end! At least they are always there to revisit and re read, and every time I do the magic is still there!!

    @ Baby cakes, yes it def was the funniest! In my opinion it was by far the best one yet even though the ending could never come close to the ending of the book. The CGI was enough to make my entire life haha.

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  18. I agree with you ... I feel bad for all the "Muggles" who think these books are "just for kids." They missed one of the greatest and most imaginative series ever written. I would have LOVED to grown up with these books ... I imagine they would have been even more magical to me before I became more Mugglefied and such. But just reading them helps me tap into that imaginative, magical part of myself -- and everyone needs that!

    Hope the movie lives up to your expectations!

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