Oh, Harry.

This year has been a mixed bag of books for me. I will discuss that in a later post.

But I did do something over Thanksgiving Break that sent me on a whirlwind three weeks of happy nostalgia.

While one of my friends and I adventured in the Land of Enchantment, we took an audiobook for the long drives through Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. That audiobook was "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Beyond the trip being amazing, that was one of the best things that ever happened in my travel experience.

First, I don't do audiobooks very often (or really, at all). Second, I rarely re-read (or re-listen?) to stories I've already read. But when she put in the first CD, I was giddy with joy. This series truly gives me light.

We listened to the whole book. While stopped in Amarillo, TX for a snack, we passed a Barnes and Noble, and knowing our proximity to the end of the story, we contemplated buying the second book. But we didn't. Oh, how wrong we were! A half hour outside of Amarillo, we regretted this decision when the book ended. When Dumbledore awarded Neville points for his courage in standing up to friends, I teared up. How could one not?

And then we were left with 3-4 hours of road left, many cows, and no Harry Potter. So we filled the emptiness with theories about what happens after book 7 and whether J.K. Rowling should write an 8th book. We also just rode quietly in awe of her masterpiece and the uncertainty that anything quite like it will come again.

Upon arriving at home, I did get the second book in audio form and commenced my new exploration into the Chamber of Secrets. It blew my mind that literally, I had not engaged with that text since seventh grade, and yet the story - and so many details were fresh. It was like seeing an old friend for the first time in years and picking up right where we left off.

Then, I was at Target (like B&N, a dangerous and expensive habit), preparing for Tulsa's "snow days." I happened to pass through the DVD section (it was right there!) and found the HP Movie series, in its entirety, for $20. Now, I have never been quiet about my opinion that the movies are not that good - but, the audiobooks had made me thirsty for all the Harry Potter I could get.

And so I watched 7 of the 8 movies in four days (thank you "snow days") - and it was so good for my soul.

The whole experience reminded me of just how powerful this series is, and what a profound impact stories can make. As I embark on Christmas break, I hear a play is coming along from J.K. Rowling about Harry. What I realized is that no matter the next installment, the first seven stories are ones for the ages. And the reason I crave more is that they are just so good. Even 14 years after my first reading, I still find them to be engaging and beautiful. Whether an additional installment, in the form of a play, will satisfy  - I don't know. But I'm happy these stories happened, and that they continue to live very brightly in my life.

Thanks again, Harry.

~MJ