We all have things that have a huge impact on our life. For some people, it’s a book. For others, it may be a song, or movie, or even a quote. Christmas 2020, marks 20 years since I was given 2 books that influenced my life in more ways than I can count. (Yes, I’m being dramatic. Just go with it, it’s fun.) To a lot of people reading this, it will seem stupid. But, these two books made the next two years of my childhood much better.
My Gift
When my Aunt Alex and Uncle Paul gifted me Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and the Chamber of Secrets on Christmas in 2000, I had only briefly heard of the series. I don’t know why the memory of opening up the wrapping paper on the books is so prominent in my memory. Either way, I remember exactly where I was sitting on the floor when I saw the book cover for the first time.
As I got older, and my love for Harry Potter only continued to grow, my parents frequently mentioned I may be ‘too old’ for the series. Since 20 years has not dimmed that enthusiasm in any way, I thought it’d be funny to remind my parents and other family members exactly who was responsible for igniting that flame. Sorry Uncle Paul and Aunt Alex! Love you!
Reading
Have you read the first Harry Potter book? That first chapter man. When you read it the first time, it is rough. I barely made it through on my first attempt. And I ended up putting the book down for a while. Later on, my Dad tried to read it but gave up after that chapter. He doesn’t know the greatness that he has yet to discover.
Eventually, in school we did a project where we turned a book of our choosing into a board game. A kid in my class created a 3D game-board representing Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. That got me excited about the book again, and I pushed through the first chapter. And the rest is history.
Moving to Maryland
During the Summer of 2001, my family moved to Maryland. To my 9 year old self, it was the end of the world. I insisted that I wasn’t going, and pretty much had to be forced into the car when it was time to leave.
When the school year began in September, I was entering 5th grade, and my brother 1st grade. I would only be at the school for 1 year before moving on to middle school. This was also the only year my brother and I were in the same school. And he made sure all his friends knew it. I can still hear him saying, “Hey guys, that’s my sister,” everytime our classes passed in the hallway.
Over the years I’ve blocked out a lot about that first year in school. But, on the first day I was absolutely miserable. One girl saw this, and struck up a conversation. And for some reason this literal angel of a girl continued to say hello to me each day even though I don’t think I was the nicest to her that first week. Eventually, we began sitting together at lunch, and we found we had something in common. You guessed it- we both loved the Harry Potter books. (This friend also reads my blog, I think, so hey girl, hey!)
We may have drifted apart after high school ended, but I can’t think about moving to Maryland, or school in general without thinking about her pure kindness, even now.
Universal Studios
A few years ago, I went to Universal Studios for the first time with my best friend. She shares a love of Harry Potter just as much as I do. The amount of detail put into that theme park is unreal. When you’re walking through Hogsmeade village you see Hogwarts castle up ahead, and it’s breathtaking. The shops have a layer of snow on the roofs, and you can hear pieces from the scores from all of the films playing. If you go and you do not get some butterbeer at least once, you clearly went to the wrong theme park. That stuff is amazing- both versions.
And Diagon Alley? It’s built so that you can’t see anything else in the park. It feels like you are really there. Whether that be the movie set or the film, I’m not sure. But it’s great. While I was there I had to change my flight out of Orlando due to Hurricane Irma. There was something so surreal about sitting in the Leaky Cauldron with a butterbeer, while looking at Southwest flights on my phone.
If you have a chance to go to the theme park- do it. Hopefully, this pandemic will end so I can go back soon, because I want to go on the newest ride!
Today and Tomorrow
My love for all things Harry Potter related is with me even today. It has been a defining ‘thing’ for most of my life, and always will be. Even as I write this, sitting next to me on my desk is that same paperback copy of the first book that I got for Christmas all those years ago. This specific copy has been with me through a lot- the move to Maryland, I brought it on vacation, it was brought back and forth to school, and even came with me to college each year. (Did you really think I was going to college without a set of the Harry Potter books? In case you were curious, I have 3 full sets of the books)
I lost count of how many times I’ve read the books or seen the movies. Don’t bother asking. What I do know is that even after 20 years, I still get giddy when I open up a book to read it. November of 2021 will be 20 years since the first film came out, but everytime I hear Hedwig’s Theme I instantly get excited. It’s almost like a herding call of some sort. You play that in a public place and social distancing rules will be out the window in seconds as a group of people will suddenly become very friendly.
While the friend I went to Universal with would have been my friend without the existence of the series, Harry Potter was a way of bonding us when we would have to go years without seeing each other. Knowing that someone else was reading the same book I was, was a comfort. Especially when I felt most alone. Not to mention our discussions and debates about every aspect of the book imaginable.
And don’t forget about the bonds between strangers. When I studied abroad, I went to the red carpet premiere of the final movie. You know, when J.K. Rowling said “Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home?” I was there. In Trafalgar Square. In London. I, along with 2 thousand people just like me stood in the rain for 8 hours. This is after spending hours the day before to get wristbands that gave access to the square itself. I got sick that night, but it was so worth it.
I have no regrets because when things got emotional, and Dan, Emma, and Rupert spoke, I wasn’t the only one crying. Everyone around me was too. I may not have gone with anyone, but I still found people to hug and people to talk to, people that knew exactly how heartbroken but happy I was. And that, was one of the best feelings in the entire world.
What book or movie has stuck with. you? Leave a comment below and tell me your stories!
Did you know that in the first chapter of The Sorcerer’s Stone they mention Bonfire Night? To learn more about this U.K. tradition and its history, check out this post. Looking for more reading and book related content? Check out my Anonymous Bookaholics tag or my review of Breaker by Harloe Rae.
If you want to talk about specific characters, check out this post.
Thank you so much! This comment made my day! Being at the premiere was very emotional, even thinking about it now I get weepy. I hope you are able to get to Universal soon- it’s definitely worth the wait! But, don’t stress about it. I think they’ll be adding to it for a long time, so there will be even more reasons to go in the future. I hope you enjoy your reread of Prisoner of Azkaban! (one of my favorites!)