The Boy Who Lived...and The Girl Who Survived

This week marked an end to my childhood in a way.  I being the voracious reader that I am devour anything with printed word.  That being said The Harry Potter Series did not escape my attention.  I believe I picked the first book up at around age nine.  It was a lovely birthday present from my aunt who shares a love of all things books.  Since that fateful day,  The Boy Who Lived has been with me for the past 11 years. So pretty much my entire life, or so it seems.  I was able to quickly read the first three books and then from that time forth had to painstakingly wait for the next volume to come out.  In my anticipation for an amazing new book or movie I would always read the previous ones to make sure I forgot nothing.  Every summer I would find myself delving back into the world of wizardry just as anxious as the year before.  These books were a part of growing up for me, as well as many people my age.  This summer was no different from the past 11 summers, except that I know it might be awhile before I again visit Diagon alley, Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and all the other magical places.  This being the case my roommates and I felt that this experience needed the proper send off.  I personally reread all the books again, except sadly OChem got in the way of life and I am still finishing up the last book.  Once the books had been read we embarked upon the longest day ever devoted to The Boy Who Lived.  What did that entail you ask?  Just spending 21 hours in a dark theatre all day long watching ALL eight movies.  We arrived a little before 6 am in the dark hours of the morning after only 3 hours of sleep.  Once there the magic began.  Come 6:30am we were watching the scrawny boy find out he was a wizard.  By 12:30 that night we were anxiously preparing for The Chosen One to vanquish The Dark Lord.  It was so much fun being able to watch the entire story from start to finish.  I don't believe any other way would have satisfied saying goodbye to something that has for so long been a part of my life.  Is this truly goodbye?  No, but it will be a good while before I again pick up those novels.  So for now I say so long to The Boy Who Lived.

6 am and Posing with HP

Right before the 1st movie with my Awesome HP Loving Roommate

All 3 of us about halfway through (we changed T-shirts throughout the day)

Team Gryffindor!

3 am the next morning.  WE SURVIVED the 1178 mins.

And so marks the ending of an era, but not really, because as far as I am concerned Harry Potter will always be The Boy Who Lived and will continue to touch the lives of generations to come.