When I was 11 I prayed my letter would come from Hogwarts. I had already ready up to Book #4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire when I was in the 4th grade. I was lucky enough to be the same age as each year that the movies came out. When I was 11 the first movie came out. Then 12 the second movie and so on. I grew up Harry Potter in so many ways. And today for my Thirty Days of Thankfulness Post I am thankful for the world of Harry Potter.
Once upon a time I was a chubby, geeky, mentally ill teen. Those things left me with just a small group of friends and whispers when I walked the hallways. I let those thing define me. Negatively. I let other people's definition of those things define me. The world said my bigger body was bad so I saw it as bad. My geeky self was overly obsessed with books and band class and that made me socially awkward. Plus I used high school to transition my sexuality as what I thought was a lesbian. And the lack of support I felt with blossoming mental illness led to a sad kid who needed a place to turn.
I've mentioned before in other blogs- I grew up without electricity. This meant I couldn't immerse myself into television or video games or the internet. So my outlet was books! And the world I fell in love with was the one J.K. Rowling created on the back of a sandwich bag.
I developed a crush on half the damn Weasleys. Young Polyamorous me, was so smitten with Ginny and hopeless for Ron but Fred and George were gold. I'm surprised I didn't throw Mrs. Weasley into the lot.
I saw myself in Hermione and felt hope in her budding and bold friendships. I cried for Neville and felt his pain. As things got worse at school or in my outside world the more I immersed myself in the world of Harry Potter.
As you can see from My books they are dingy and battered. Well loved I'd like to say. They have all been read countless times.
And now almost 20 years later from the first time I read the books I am starting them again. Except this time I am a Queer, plus size, geeky woman and I see those things are what make me great, not what brings down my value. My body is beautiful with every curve and every wiggle. My sexuality is fluid and something to be embraced and celebrated. And so what if I get really passionate about somethings? As far as we know, we only get one life to live- get passionate about something! Just remember to live!
"It matters not what someone is born but what they grow to be"- Albus Dumbledore
