Great anecdote:
My Aunt Barb is a psychiatrist in San Diego. She was seeing a patient who was very depressed, extremely sullen, lifeless, and uncommunicative.
After a couple of appointments, she came into a session looking completely changed: happy, glowing, talkative, alive...
My Aunt: "S0-and-so, you look great!"
So-and-so: "I've been reading Harry Potter!"
There are some things in life that are just purely good. Out to do harm to no one, only make the world a better place. And I believe these are:
1) Harry Potter.
2) Cat Deeley - the host of So You Think You Can Dance.
...when I say Harry Potter, I'm referring to the books first and foremost.
For me, the movies have always been a distant second and sometimes the commercial aspect is a little too obvious.
But I really do appreciate the chance to relive the books.
(And I love that Hedwig theme song).
Especially this last and final time.
Remembering reading it aloud in middle school to my sisters and Dad: grappling with the mouthful of a name like Hermoine, feeling the warmth of the Weasley home, the horror of a villain who can't be referred to by name, the power of a sorting hat, the mystery of a scar, the atmosphere of a Hogwarts made so completely real you desperately wanted to go there too, wispy beards and unassuming wands, butterbeer and chocolate frogs, pronouncing Snape as Snap and being heartbreakingly convinced of his goodness from the very beginning...
p.s. I will swear on a stack of Bibles that the absolute best thing you can do for your kids is read to them at night (thanks dad!).
