Evergreen?

'It All Ends'. The tagline of the last movie in the Harry Potter series, which will be released in a few days from now...

My affair with Harry Potter began just about 10 years ago, strangely enough, in San Francisco. That was where I obtained the first book in the series, 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'. Since then, I've got every book right on the day it was released, and watched each of the 7 movies, too.
I've smiled, cried, loved, detested, roared with laughter, wept....reading and re-reading the books has been a rollercoaster of emotions.
I've criticised some of the movies, grumbled about them, cribbed about 'important parts being left out'....but at the same time, really enjoyed seeing my favourite characters 'in flesh and blood'. Well, almost.

Teenage crushes, the pangs of separation, school woes, the trauma of losing loved ones....all these emotions, and more, seem so 'real' in the HP series. Among friends, we tended to discuss Harry, his friends and teachers, almost as if each of them was 'one of us'. Though we bravely declared, 'We know it's not real', we; at least I ; did feel the teeny-weeniest stab of disappointment when no owl bearing an admission letter appeared at my window on my eleventh birthday ;).....in fact, it does seem as if we have grown up with each Harry Potter book.

The last installment, i.e the movie, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 2' will soon come and go.....but I don't think that will signal the end of this exquisite magical journey. Yes, I'm sure 'The Boy Who Lived' will continue to live in our memories...

Wimbledon 2011

So Wimbledon draws to a close....but according to me, it isn't just the winner of the final who deserves praise!!! This year, the tournament was a real 'treat' to watch with a number of exciting matches.....kudos to Delpo, who made a magnificent comeback and posed a tough challenge to Rafa ; Andy Murray, who's playing like a dream on grass (I'm sure he'll win on his home turf soon) ; Jo-Wifried Tsonga, who showed great grit to beat Federer, rallying from 2 sets down! and also gave Novak a good workout ;) ; also, the 'living legend' himself, who's still a class apart ; Rafa, who played superbly to beat tough opponents right upto the final ; and, of course, 'the Djoker', now World No.1 after winning 3 Grand Slam titles!!!