Thank you, Harry

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It was a rainy summer day in Colorado. I was 19, a summer nanny for three very bored kids. I had been given strict orders for no TV, we were trapped inside and the kids were getting restless.

Restless as in, jumping from the top of the stairs to the bottom. This made me fear for my job much more than the safety of the kids, so I grabbed the nearest book I could find and told them to sit down. We were going to read.

The book I grabbed? Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone. I began to read aloud. The kids and I were entranced as we entered a world where wizards and magic really did exist. That day we read for about three hours straight, until my voice was hoarse. It was the best day I had as a nanny.

After that, I was hooked. I went home that very day and bought every volume of HP available. At the time, it was books one through four. They were by my side the rest of the summer. I finished reading all four and reread them. I researched when the fifth would come out.

I became a Harry Potter-phile.

Harry and I finished his journey together, as did millions of others who read Rowling's seven part series. When the seventh book came out, I knew I would have a hard time finding a series I loved as much. I have yet to find one.

I was sad that there would be no more books but I felt better that there were more movies coming out. I am a true believer that the books never held any candle to the movies, but I have always enjoyed Hollywood's take on the movies.

We have plans to see the last installment in the HP series and while I'm excited, I'm sad too. I'll miss Harry and the wizarding world.

However, I've got the books. Better yet, I have a son. One day, my son and I will sit down on his bed and snuggle together. We'll open Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and we'll read. We'll discuss, we'll analyze and we'll imagine what life would be like if it were true...if magic really did exist. He'll ask me to read one more chapter and I won't be able to say no. We'll read until he falls asleep. It all sounds so delicious, I just can't wait.

So really, my journey with Harry is not over. I am lucky enough to relive it through the eyes of my son.

For that Harry, I say thank you.

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