Potter Release Night....

Dateline Richfield, MN:

In a little more than one hour Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released upon the world. Sometime back in early March I reserved my copy and now I find myself, 28 years old, sitting in Richfield Minnesota at 10:53 pm on a Friday night eagerly awaiting a children's book. Things could be worse...

I walked into Borders this evening and upon entering was given a blue colored wristband. Basically what this means is that I will have to wait until the "blue group" is called and then (and only then) will I be able to claim my copy. I was sort of hoping that I would have to put on a raggedy sorting cap and be mystically told which group I would be apart of.

However, on my trip to Diagon Alley (Borders) I discovered that the Leaky Cauldron (some call it Don Pablos) was still open. I used a simple charm spell and convinced them to serve me a tall mug of Ale even though I strolled in a little past their suburban version of last call. If only for 20 minutes and a pint of Ale, this defiantly beats standing in line and observing the madness that is Harry Potter release night. What the hey, Blue team won't go until well after midnight.

I have been to the "grand release" of the past three books. This one is by far the most bizarre. I believe that this is due to two factors. One, this is the last book and Two, I usually go to the Borders in Downtown Minneapolis. I believe that the suburban locations tend to have better turnouts for late night events. Anyway...I just saw a girl walk in with a prom dress on. No kidding! A prom dress! I am not sure where a wizzarding world a prom dress comes into play but who am I to question.

My favorite people I have met at this event are couple who I parked next to. This is a great story...I pull into Borders...it's totally packed so I just go to the way back, dark corner of the parking lot. There is one car there, for some reason I decide to park next to it. As soon as I pull up a guy sits up and looks around as if to say "comon'...nothing happening here". How embarrassing...I just busted up a suburban grownup make out session. This is defiantly awkward and this guy is just kind of glaring at me. His windows are down so I say the first thing that comes to mind..."Looks like the place to be eh?" Ok time to go...I scurry away and find myself recounting my own tale of adventure and danger while waiting for another.