Snuggled in my bed in my bunk at camp, I struggled to grasp the dynamic sexual awakenings of four teenage girls in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Not even close to the brink of puberty, I had trouble making it through this 300-page book. I couldn’t relate to the romantic feelings they were developing for their male counterparts. I was nine: I got grossed out when a boy in my elementary school told me he had a crush on me.
So when I looked over to my fellow campers, lying in their beds with their Harry Potter books, I was dumbfounded. They looked like they were reading a dictionary. I thought my book was heavy to hold? I couldn’t even imagine trying to hold up a Harry Potter book. After first and second period, all the girls in my bunk would discuss what was happening in the book. Even our counselors joined in on the conversation. I felt so left out. Almost every year while I was at camp, a new Harry Potter book would come out. When it wasn’t a book release, it was a new movie out in theaters. I tried to get into them back then. But if I couldn’t get The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, how was I going to understand this whole new world JK Rowling created? I even tried watching the first movie. I was still confused even though it was imagined out and visually displayed right in front of me. With each new Harry Potter addition, I felt more and more like a wizard pariah.
Fast-forward 10 years later, and I find myself at Harry Potter World in none other than *wonderful* Orlando, Florida for my brother’s high school baseball spring break training. In my family, it was normal not to be into Harry Potter. My sister gave up after reading the the first one, my brother was too young, and my parents couldn’t get through them when trying to read them to us. However, we felt we should go out of obligation, since it’s a “phenomenon” and all that.
As I was on the Hogwarts Express leaving the King’s Cross Station, heading towards the best Witchcraft and Wizarding School, I felt left out yet again. I didn’t get all the references and intricate details that recreated this world I knew nothing about. In that moment, I decided that when ABC Family was going to have its Harry Potter Weekend, I was going to have a marathon and watch every movie. I needed to make up for all those years lost. I refused to feel left out again!
When ABC Family aired Harry Potter Weekend over this summer, I hunkered down on the couch with my take-out Pad Thai and vowed not to leave my house until I finished every film. And I didn’t need convincing. These films are amazing. They’re captivating. Extremely moving. Even my whole family got on board. My mom and I were in hysterics when both Dumbledore and Snape cried.
I really wish I could turn back time. I’m kind of pissed at myself that I wanted to play Barbies rather than join in on the Harry Potter camaraderie at the height of its popularity. I wish I could have dressed up as Hermione for the midnight premieres and discuss the books with my camp friends. I’ll never get those years back and now I have to live with those consequences. I’m currently in the middle of the third book. It’s amazing the difference a decade makes: these books are so easy to read now! What I’m most excited about now is that when Cursed Child comes out, I get to be excited along with all the other hardcore fans. Because guess what? I’m one of you all now!
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