The Month of Lasts

We finally went to see "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2" and even though it has been out for a few weeks, it surprised me to find the theater packed. We arrived 15 minutes early and had a hard time finding seats for the four of us to sit together. We all enjoyed the movie, but left disappointed that there would be no more to see.

The kids grew up with Harry and we celebrated many milestones with him. HP was the first thick book my son ever read, the first series we actually waited for the release and even pre-ordered them so we could have it on hand ASAP and the first series of movies we not only anticipated, but all eagerly awaited their release.

After seeing the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2, we went to Borders to take advantage of the sales. It was sad seeing the store with empty spots, no cafe, and the shelving units with prices on them. We have always stopped at Borders every time we went to the mall. It was one of the places we HAD to go. With three voracious readers in the family, we never left there empty handed. Now, I not only say goodbye to Harry, but the place where we used to purchase our HP items. It is time to look for another "local" brick & mortar bookstore. Borders was 40 miles away and Barnes & Nobel is even farther.

Just as we said goodbye to Harry Potter, we will also be saying goodbye to our youngest as she leaves for college next weekend. The weekend following, her brother will be leaving for college, and for the first time in many years of having a house filled with loving children, we will truly be alone. I still can't believe that those beautiful children are now amazing adults. When did all that happen?

Yes, it is a month of lasts...The last time we made a purchase from Borders, the last time we will see a new Harry Potter on the big movie screen, and our last child saying goodbye to childhood as she skips out the door and plunges head first into campus life.