Harry Potter and the Geulah

Bsd

I went to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince tonight with a few friends. I grew up with those books, and so I feel like I have to see the movies. Hated the Order of the Phoenix, both book and movie, but this one was rather good. Funny and tender and scary and sad, and I left the theater remembering why I liked the series, and of course, wanting to read the seventh book again, to remind myself of everything that happens.

I had a chavrusa with a friend today, the first time I've learned anything in months. We just went through a short sicha, a simple one, which talked about Geulah. The true and complete redemption. And then I went and watched Harry Potter.

I got home from the theater and no matter that it was 3 in the morning, I sat down with my roommate's copy of the Deathly Hallows and started to read. But it's late and I was tired, so I skipped to the end, to Harry's victory over Tom Riddle, and then the epilogue. Nineteen years later.

When I read that the first time, I was disappointed. It all happened so fast! One minute Voldemort stood there, and they were in the thick of battle and Fred and Remus and Tonks had died, and then he was dead, just a shriveled shell of a body, and then Harry stood with his kids at the train station. Just like that.

"His scar hadn't twinged in nineteen years. All was well."

I read it tonight and I almost cried.

A world where all is well?

It's a dream that hurts because it's been promised a reality.

Harry Potter's world is all well, but we're still fighting our good fight.

Clean

I cleaned the bathroom

Poured various cleaning supplies everywhere, and scrubbed, and plucked random long hairs off the side of the sink (Girls!).

It was fun. Ish. I had to do it, or my apartment mates would fine me.

Yah.

That's our new system. We all got chores, and if we don't do them, we get fined.

Which is annoying but also motivating. Truth be told, I probably wouldn't have cleaned the bathroom today if not for the threat of being fined.

I always forget how satisfying and frustrating it is to clean. Satisfying to spray and wipe and watch the dirt come right off. Frustrating to see the corners that never get clean and the dust that always resettles and the stains that won't come out!

And then there's the headache I have, a mixture of hunger and ammonia scents.

Now my room.

Then I'll feel like a human being, one who buys groceries and does her dishes, and cleans the bathroom and has artwork from her friends on the walls of her room.

My Niece (and Other Things) Is One Year Old

It's my niece's first birthday today. Three days after mine - by the way, I am now twenty one.

It's one of the most special dates of the year for me.

One year ago -

One year ago!

One year ago...

One year to go?