Friday, August 3, 2007

The Potter Affair

I've been involved in a torrid affair. I've lost a few days out of the past week and a half of my life. He kept me up late at night. He was my reason for waking in the morning. I couldn't get him off my mind. I lost sleep. I neglected friends and family. He even invaded my dreams. It has been a punch drunk sort of love. Yes, I've been reading Harry Potter.

Harry and I have had quite the history, actually. Years ago, while I was still a freshman in college, I read books 1-4 in about a week-long span. I recall being ticked off I had to wait who knew how long until book 5 came out. Like any lover who feels herself scorned, I forgot Harry and our passionate affair, moved on to more sophisticated reading, required reading for college classes, poetry and other recommendations. I began to think myself above him, possibly out of spite for having to wait around for him. Harry was just a name I heard in certain circles. Harry's story slipped priority and other books, other things took precedence. Harry was forgotten. I slipped into adulthood. I forgot the intensity of that magical week we spent together.

And then I had a conversation with Alice's sister about Harry Potter, she lent me books 5 and 6. Responsibility be damned, I bit. An all-nighter, three complete showerless, nutrition-forgotten days of my life, three neglect-complaint sessions from those close to me, a late-night stop at Wal-Mart (it was the only place open) for Book 7, and I've completed the series. And, frankly, now that it is over I feel a bit lost. It is silly, I know. But there is a melancholy in knowing I will never read Harry Potter for the first time again. In fact, I doubt I'll read much of Potter ever again. One cannot dedicate that kind of time to that kind of epic series when one has a "life list" like mine. One must also face the facts: she's 26, the school year is coming up, she has laundry to do and bills to pay, and losing a day for a reading love affair is silly.

So, Harry, thank you for the time we spent together. My memories of you will always be fond ones.

3 comments:

Loving The Chaos said...

He he he....you should publish this! :)

Stine said...

Lyam and I started reading Book 1 out loud just yesterday.

Mrs. Bennett said...

You know, I've only read books 1 and 1/2. This was years ago - like 2001. I probably need to start again. My book list gets so huge though. Fun post!