Security Blankets

I have some security blankets. There, I said it.

[photo source]

Like sweet Linus from Peanuts, sometimes I just need a little something to make me feel safe and "at home" again when the world is spinning too fast for my liking. For me, those blankets aren't necessarily physical objects that I clutch in my hand (anymore -my childhood teddy bear has officially taken up residence in the guest room-), but have evolved into forms of entertainment that allow me to escape my world and all of the confusion, stress, drama, apprehension of the future, and every other bad feeling or emotion that it may contain. Generally, any good album, film, or book (series) can help temporarily distract me from my stressers, but sometimes I need my go-to security blankets to slow the world back down when I can't seem to get a firm grip on anything. Lately, my life has hosted its fair share of frustrations and chaos, and as a result, I've been venturing back more and more to my safe places looking for that comfort and familiarity that they provide.

Currently (this minute), the biggest Bad in my life is my perceived loss of control and sense of self. I feel like I've become a slave to (in)fertility and her many cumbersome treatments. Each day/week largely consists of a calculated diet, an exercise regimen, doctor visits or calls, insurance questions, acupuncture sessions, checking my temperature, peeing on sticks, swallowing various forms of medication, enduring negative side effects, monitoring any changes in any symptoms in my body and mind, attempting to understand everything, trying to not expect anything, making all efforts to avoid looking into the future all the while hoping and longing for that unsure future. Basically, it feels like every minute of my life is determined for me. I'm trying to do what I'm told to do by people whom I trust and respect, and do all of those things with only positive thoughts and emotions without recognizing the dark, misting raincloud that seems to hover over my whole world. I strive to meet those requirements with very few freedoms or choices of my own. Needless to say, I frequently find myself grasping for a sense of control and familiarity. Enter my metaphorical security blankets.

If I've simply had a bad day and I only want to unwind on my way home from work or while I'm making my evening salad for dinner, I'll turn to my "afghan" security blanket: my best friend, Taylor Swift. She and I have such a great relationship. We just get each other. So, as I drive away from my bad day, I blast her music, belt out every single word to each song, dance around the kitchen, and gladly enter into Taylor's world and forget my own. Her music is my afghan, because it's pretty and small and easily accessible.

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 If a 45-minute commuter concert isn't quite cutting it and I need a full evening away from my own life, then I'll crash on the couch and pop in one of my go-to DVDs. I love Dirty Dancing and Moulin Rouge! both so incredibly much for so many very specific reasons that I won't necessarily go into full detail right now. (The love! The dancing! The songs! The costumes! The theatricality! The woman-is-worth-more-than-she-ever-thought-before!)

But these two films uniquely qualify as security blankets because of my personal history with them. In college, I would watch either of them as I studied, did homework, or wrote term papers. At the time, they provided a perfect distraction; one that would keep me from hearing the chatter in the hallway and wanting to join, but didn't demand my full attention because I knew them by heart. Music would beg me to sing along, and regular television programs would urge me to see how they ended. But Dirty Dancing and Moulin Rouge! were perfectly there for me. I could tune them out when I needed to focus, and I could turn around and join in the storyline at anytime that I needed a mental break from the school work.

From 2002 - 2006, my favorite two movies were my college companions. Now, they serve a new role as a couple of my "fleece throw" security blankets. When I sit down and watch one of them, the familiarity of the story lines, the song lyrics, the memories attached to different scenes all make my heart calm down from its now-typically quickened pace. In this other world, I know what's going to happen. I know how each person is going to react. I know what they're going to say, and I can recite the lines right alongside them in unison. I don't have to wonder or try to make sense of anything or be anxious with a ton of apprehensions looming in my mind. I can just rest in the safe place that their love and their stories provide and completely escape the heaviness of my own life for an evening. Since these act as fleece throws in my life, I keep them readily handy, pull them up to my chin, and snuggle up under the comfort they provide.

[photo sources: one and two]

However, the Big Daddy of all Safe Places is Hogwarts. When I need more than one night "off" from my brain, when my emotional muscles grow too weak to carry the weight of it all anymore, I run into the arms of JK Rowling's magical world of Harry Potter. This is my most sufficient way to escape. It's a long-term relief with the fantasy lasting weeks or months or however long I want it to, but it only requires short-term commitments of reading at a time. I can go back there, whenever I choose, for merely a few minutes if I simply need a break to clear my head, or I can go back there for hours on end if I need to better forget all of the responsibilities and burdens I'm hauling.

I can experience Harry's journey with him all over again from start to finish. Alongside this boy wizard, I can realize that I, too, am capable of great things I never knew possible, learn of magical places and creatures, meet fantastic characters and form strong, life-long relationships, and eventually understand that I am destined to fulfil a calling and a purpose that no one else is equipped to do. Through Harry, I can leave all of my troubles behind and soar with him on the backs of thestrals and dragons and finally, after much struggle, defeat the bad guy once and for all. For the moments that I am entered into Hogwarts, my life is free and light and fun and magical. And familiar. This book series is my biggest, softest, comfiest, covers-the-whole-bed security blanket of them all.

Recently, I purchased and downloaded all seven books in electronic form. I can't even describe how wonderful and therapeutic that was for me. Just knowing that I had the entire series on hand at all times on my kindle or my iPhone literally sent a sense of physical calm and relief through my body. (Yes. I may be crazy.) What those e-books provided me was a completely accessible security blanket any time I might need it. Just having the blanket present actually created a safe place in itself. Any time life gets too crazy or chaotic or confusing or scary or overwhelming, I can whip out one of my electronic devices and quickly retreat into the fantasy world. It helps me not be afraid of what's to come. I can handle the coming days and weeks and months (and years?), because I know that the very moment it all gets to be too much for me to take, I can dive into the safety of Hogwarts. What an amazing resource a security blanket can be. 



[photo source]

Do you have a "security blanket?" Where is your safe place to escape when the real world gets too much? And have the forms which your security blankets take morphed over time as you've gotten older?

Until the Very End

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In part, JK Rowling dedicated the final book in her Harry Potter series to me, a devoted fan who has stuck with Harry until the very end.

The 7th book was published in 2007, and Harry Potter's story was officially complete, but it has never felt so final as it does now, with the release of the last film in the franchise. Of course, we went to see the movie the minute it opened, but instead of providing a sense of wholeness with the conclusion, it instead left me with a giant gaping void, longing to be filled again.

You see, Harry Potter and his world have been a distinct part of mine for over a decade. I was first introduced to Harry (yes, we're on a first name basis by now) in 2000 by my smarter, younger brother, Richard. Naturally, I balked at the boy wizard's childish story; anything that my nerdy little brother was into was way below me. Since I was already a sophomore in high school, I was much too mature for a "kid's book." Thankfully, my mom continued to prompt me to pick up the Hero's Journey with anecdotes of a "funny house elf" and a flying car, as well as deeper lessons in friendship, courage, loyalty, and love. I finally conceded to quiet my scoffing long enough to "try just one."

To my surprise, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone truly was a cute, entertaining, easy-to-read book with deep underlying meaning. It wasn't long until I stepped a little deeper into the Potterworld with The Chamber of Secrets, which I found that I enjoyed even more than the first. From that moment on, I dove headfirst into this magical world of wands and chocolate frogs.

I anxiously awaited the release of each subsequent novel. Every time Harry boarded the Hogwarts Express, I was right alongside him on his journey into the wizarding world. And at the end of each book, when he was sent back to live with the Durselys for the summer, I, too, was stuck in the muggle world waiting for the next book to be published.

Over the last ten years, the limits of JK Rowling's imagination have become mine, as well. I genuinely felt like I was there when Harry, Ron, and Hermione lulled Fluffy to sleep in order to save the Sorcerer's Stone from the man who murdered his parents; when they ventured deep inside the Chamber of Secrets to encounter the first of many parts of Voldemort's soul stored within a horcrux; when they helped free the Prisoner of Azkaban who would become one of my favorite characters; when his name was spit from the Goblet of Fire and he competed in the Tri-Wizard Tournemant, only to be portkeyed to his arch nemesis; when they fought Voldemort in the Ministry of Magic with the Order of the Phoenix and he finally discovered his true destiny; when he was (seemingly) betrayed by the Half-Blood Prince after studying the history, and final downfall, of his rival; and when they tracked down the Deathly Hallows and finally destroyed all of the horcruxes, so they could save the entire wizarding world from the most evil wizard who ever lived.

I remember drinking butterbeer and learning the rules of Quidditch as if I was truly part of the story. I have legitimate memories of traveling to Hogsmeade and visiting Honeyduke's and Zonko's Joke Shop. I felt like I actually wrote feet of parchment worth of essays for Snape, only to have Hermione correct it all, and that I really wandered the castle in the darkness under the invisibility cloak's protection. I felt the pain when loved ones died along the way. I felt the betrayal when nobody believed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had returned. I felt the loneliness of being the Chosen One and the fear of having to go on an impossible mission to defeat the scariest, meanest, evilest wizard ever. I felt the resolution of knowing what must be done in order to finally conquer, and I felt the courage it took to make that final journey, as well as the love that it took to get there.

I know I probably sound like a total freak to those who haven't been properly introduced to Harry Potter, and maybe even to some of you who have met him, but haven't gotten to know him like I do. But Harry, Ron, and Hermione, as well as Neville, Luna, Fred, George, Sirius, Lupin, Dobby, Hagrid, Ginny, and so many others have truly been my friends over the years. They were a safe place to go to when I needed an escape. They truly provided me with comfort, peace, familiarity and a sense of belonging, direction, and identity through their fictional lives.

Over the last ten years, Harry and Co. have taught me many things. They've taught me the value of friendship and loyalty and bravery and courage; of believing in yourself even when you're the only one who does; of trusting in the good of others; of working hard and not giving up; of choices being far more important than abilities or lineage, and choosing what is right may not always be what is easy; of the power of love, and the greatest of which is one who lays down his life for others.

If I ever wrote a personal letter to Jo, I imagine it would look very similar to this hypothetical one written by an author/songwriter I admire:

Dear Ms. Rowling,

I think it’s remarkable what you’ve done. I love your imagination. I love your characterization and your sense of humor. I love that you’re telling a story about choosing the right thing, even when it’s hard. I love that you’re telling a story that is full of wisdom, a story that reminds me how evil Evil is. Most of all, I love that your story reminds me that light is stronger than darkness, that the best way to love is to lay your life down, and that Death will not have the final say. By the way, I’m a follower of Christ, and I see him in your story. I don’t know if that’s intentional or not, but you should know that he’s in there. In fact, it wouldn’t be a huge stretch to say that reading your books has helped me to praise him even more for his courage, his sacrifice, and his strength to conquer the hosts of hell to save us.

Sincerely,

Andrew Peterson

That about sums it all up for me. I really don't know how to feel right now. With the release of the final film marking the true end to Harry's (and my) magical journey, I genuinely feel like I'm mourning the loss of my childhood; like I just graduated and the real (muggle) world is looming in my too-near future.

The Mehaffey siblings taking part in the last moments of world-wide Harry Potter fandom. We waited in line for four hours, and Brad and I made custom shirts to commemorate the occasion.

Waiting for the conclusion to finally begin, ten years in the making.

I will surely miss the anticipation of the next book or movie installment. I'll miss the excitement of midnight premieres. I'll miss the mystery of the unknown and the journey. I'll miss the reign this phenomenon has had on our culture. But, no matter what, I'll always be part of the Harry Potter generation, and I'll luckily never have to truly miss the wizarding world, because this is not the end, not really. Hogwarts will always be there to welcome me home.

Thank you, Jo Rowling, for so many things, I can't even express. Thanks to you, and the Boy Who Lived, all is well.

HP "Friday" parody

This about sums up my excitement today!

(Seriously, parodies of "Friday" never get old!)

It All Ends. Tonight.

The countdown consists of mere hours!

For the last week, I've been enjoying a week long Potterthon, watching a movie a day in preparation for this final installment. (Each one gets so much better than the one before! This last one is going to be absolutely epic!) However, if you haven't had the opportunity to take part in your own Potterfest, here's a quick recap of all the films up to this point. Time to brush up on your horcuxes and hallows!

EEEE!!! I.am.so.excited.for.this! I can hardly stand it! This is it! This is the final showdown between Harry and Voldemort; the final showdown between good and evil; the final moments of simultaneous Pottermania worldwide. This is it. It all ends tonight. I'm so ready! (With a full package of kleenex...)

Final HP world premiere

If only Brad and I had a full stock of Floo Powder, we could have used this giant fireplace at the Cheekwood Mansion to travel through the Floo Network over to London for the World Premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part Two, yesterday.

But, alas, we haven't been able to make the trip to Diagon Alley to replenish our supply. And since neither of us have passed our Apparition test yet (splinching is no joke, people), I had to settle with watching the livestream of the premiere online. It was nearly as good as being there in person.

I can't even begin to imagine how Jo, the actors, and the crew must feel knowing that it's all finally complete. I'm a blubbering fool, myself, and it's not even my baby.

"Whether you return by page or big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."

- Jo Rowling

2 weeks and counting down!

It's July! Which means it's Harry Potter month!! His birthday is 7/31/80; the final book was released on 7/21/07; and the final movie will be released on 7/15/11! Did you catch that last one? The final movie will be released in just two weeks!!!

If you need a refresher on where we are, here's a recap of what happened in Part 1. (Sorry about the annoying message across the screen. But if you click on it, you get a sneak peek at a new scene!)

And for those of us who have read the books and don't mind spoilers, here's a featurette about the horcruxes and what's coming up in this epic conclusion of the story.

EEEEE!!!! Two weeks, people! Two.Weeks! I better get started on the Mehaffey Sibling t-shirts for the midnight release! Are any of you going to join us in this last moment of Pottermania?? You can never get it back...

Pottermore, The Big HP Announcement

J.K. Rowling is a genius. I mean, obviously; she created the entire universe that encompasses the magical world of Harry Potter. But in addition to creatively inventing stories, characters, words, sports, and the like, she's also a marketing genius. For the last week, during the height of the HP frenzy surrounding the final film, she has been tempting her fans with a promise of a "big announcement" regarding the website Pottermore.com.

The site said one thing: "Coming soon..." followed by her signature with two owls on either side of the page. When you clicked on one of the owls, it would direct you to her official YouTube page where a countdown clock was ticking away until the announcement, and "owls were gathering" by the flocks each day, not unlike her fans, in anticipation for the big news. This morning the countdown finally reached zero, and Pottermore transformed into this:

Turns out her announcement was just that, an announcement. The website is not officially open, yet, but she did reveal what it will be, come October. (Like I said, she's a marketing genius.)

I don't quite understand all of it, but I did gather that she loves her crazy devoted fanbase, she'll be providing digital audio books and e-books, and she'll also reveal some before-unknown-to-the-public information regarding the Harry Potter Universe that she has kept secret for well over a decade. (It's probably all of the random facts that didn't directly relate to Harry's personal story.) I have to admit, I'm pretty darn excited about all of that. I'm not sure what the "online reading experience unlike any other" will be actually like, but it sure sounds fun!

♥ Long live Harry Potter! ♥

Cheap Fandango Tickets

I'm cheap, and I love good deals, which is why I've joined LivingSocial for their daily specials. But my favorite deals, and the ones that save me the most money, are those of which I'd be purchasing anyway. Combine that with anything Harry Potter related, and I'm a very happy girl!

Cue Today's Deal, which is a pair of movie tickets for $9 through Fandango, and I'm squealing with excitement! Since I'm totally planning on going to the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two next month(!!), I'd definitely be buying the tickets anyway. If I can get both Brad's and mine for less than the normal price of a single one, you better believe I'm snatching that right up, baby!

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Thanks, LivingSocial and Fandango, for making HP7.2 seem even closer!! I can't wait! The count down has officially begun! (I mean, seriously it is. Did you notice the very literal countdown on the left? I'm for real, here.)

If you would also like to take advantage of today's sweet movie ticket deal, click here. You can use them for any movie of your choice, and they're good for months. Consider it a cheap future date night, courtesy of Mindy. You're welcome. :)

Sidenote: They just released some more HP7.2 posters. I can't control msyelf. I must post them all!

Oh man! Can't you tell how gritty and intense it's going to be!? This is war! They're all dueling. I especially love the ones with Neville and the sword of Gryffindor, Professor McGonagall and the enchanted-to-fight Hogwarts statues, and the Weasley twins. Get ready, people!!

NEXT Month!!

Now that it's June, we can finally say that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 comes out next month! To whet our appetite, the Harry Potter facebook page has been releasing some new character posters for the final film, each accompanied by its associated captions. Oh, I'm so excited!!

"I never wanted any of you to die for me."

"We can end this."



"We wouldn't last two days without her."



"Join me, and confront your fate."

 

"Don't you understand? I have to do this."



"It's Harry Potter. He's all bright, and shiny, and new again, just in time for the Dark Lord."

I'm especially anxious to watch the stories of the following two characters unfold in this final movie!!

 Snape will finally be understood.

"Has it ever crossed your brilliant mind that I don't want to do this anymore?"

And Neville finally gets his moment of glory! Here's the hero featured with the Sword of Gryffindor!  {I ♥ Neville!!}

"Dumbledore's Army is supposed to be about doing something real."

Oh my goodness, I can hardly stand the excitement! I'm going to burst. And for some further icing on the HP cake, they've also released two new TV spots to go along with the main trailer.

The film isn't even rated yet?? Holy cow. It's going to be so intense!!!

I can't believe this is the last month that the world will ever be without the complete Harry Potter [movie] series. I hope we're up for it. There's no going back. Honestly, this planet doesn't even know what's about to hit it. (Well, unless, of course, they've read the story. Which I hope they all have, because they'd love it!...)

AHHH!!! 

HP Bday gift

Look what Warner Bros. Pictures released, just for my birthday! The first full trailor for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. EEEEEEE!!!! I'm flattered that they remembered!  :)

OHMYGOODNESS! Did you just see that!?! Holy cow! I equal amounts cannot wait for July 15th to get here and also never want it to arrive! I'm so anxious to see this epic finale, but I don't want it to all really be over! Oh, the internal struggle!

ACCIO HP7.2!!

Potter & Pizza Tax Day

Generally, on this day every year, I post some sort of "Holla! I survived!" post celebrating the end of tax season. However, this year the deadline was extended through the weekend to Monday the 18th. Which means we still have three more days to go. Boo.



But April 15, 2011 is still going to be a good day worth celebrating, because Harry Potter 7.1 comes out today on video! And I'm having a little Pizza and Potter party tonight with some fellow HP freaks who intend to watch the movie as well as every minute of the "hours of extra footage" of behind the scenes stuff! (We're having to borrow Charles' PS3 in order to play the Bluray, since all the secret stuff is only on that disk. Those sneaky people forcing us to upgrade!)

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Even though the plans have been made for a couple of days, I needed a reminder this morning when I was dreading getting out of bed and willingly going back for another busy tax day at work. I finally asked Brad to give me a pep talk. It went something like this:

"Guess what comes out today! Harry Potter! Guess what you're going to do tonight! Watch it with your favorite Harry Potter friends! But in order to get to that point, you've got to start today. So that means just hoppin' on out of bed. C'mon. You can do it. Let's go ahead and start this Harry Potter day. Every minute is a minute closer to pizza and Potter. Whatever happens between now and then is just busy work getting you closer to tonight. C'mon... There ya go... You can do it... Let's get this Potter started!" (Isn't Brad the best? He totally knows me.)

So, here I am counting down the hours (and phone calls, and clients, and returns, and lunch orders, and faxes, and even one very disgruntled client who was not happy about how much he owed) to get to this:

I think I can make it. Leave it to Harry Potter (and Brad Mehaffey) to give me the motivation I need to make it through another tax season!

Oh, and wait! This just in! Bradley not only gives great pep talks, but he also sends "Cheer you up" flowers to my office! Seriously, what a great husband! :D

Maybe I really can make it all the way through this (extended) tax season, after all! :)