The Magic of Living

I want to tell you just a little bit about my friends Melissa & Josh, to help you understand the nature of the celebration we were having in Florida this past week.

On June 3, 2013, Melissa & Josh lost their precious oldest son to SUD Syndrome.  It's not my story to tell in any detail, but this was both unexpected and devastating for them and for everyone who knew them. They've obviously been having an extremely difficult year, to say the least. But when they started considering what they wanted to do to mark the occasion at the one-year mark, Melissa told me that what she really wanted to do was to celebrate life. They've been doing plenty of mourning and grieving all the year long, but to mark the one year point from when life took so much joy from them, they have decided to renew their joy in life. Rather than sever their connections from the world and all they loved in it, they wanted to strengthen them. My admiration for them grows continually.

Borrowed this here shot from Melissa. Don't worry, I have several hundred of my own pictures too. 

As many of you will know, June 3 is also my birthday. Melissa decided that was the perfect source of inspiration for her celebration of life, and at the coldest time of the year she sent me an invitation to join their family in sunny Florida for a visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We are both huge fans. Ok, I might be slightly more keen, but not by much. So you can imagine that a trip to this theme park with such good friends and fellow fans is about the best birthday activity I could imagine for myself.

This day was a vacation, and also a pilgrimage, and also like a renewal of vows. June 3 was a day of magic.

At the entrance, we paused to coat ourselves with sunscreen, take pictures, and just take in the sight of snow-covered Hogsmeade.

Miles paused to make a friend. 

...and another friend. All aboard for Hogwarts!

Kitty! She crowed. 

Then we were off for sight-seeing in Hogsmeade! Temperatures were in the low 80s all day; not bad for Scotland! :-)

The Three Broomsticks! We made a note to return for lunch. 

I appreciate that they made the effort for a nod to the Hog's Head. I do love the Hog's Head, though the books don't make it sound like a desirable lunch venue. 

Why? Why not?!

Hogwarts castle at last!

Stern castle guards. 

So, it wasn't actually life-sized. But the height really made for an effective illusion. 

Waiting in line in the herbology gardens. 

Finally, we got into the real interior of the castle. It was richly decorated.

Forgive some of the blurriness, do! The castle was, appropriately, quite dark.

House points. Go Gryffindor! 

The entrance to Dumbledore's office. 

The portraits gossiped about us as if we couldn't hear. It was brilliant.

It's like a museum for fans while you're waiting in line. I ate it up, man.

Basilisk fangs. 

Dragon skeleton. For some reason, Adele LOVED this. 

Poor quality, but the fat lady was moving an awful lot in her portrait. 

Sorting hat. 

So, I borrowed the above picture. I just did not heave it in me to be taking pictures while we were boarding this ride; was way to busy LOSING IT with excitement. You get strapped in and whisked around Hogwarts. Some of it's CGI, some is real scenery. You get to chase a dragon, follow Harry on broomsticks, take floo powder, jump off the astronomy tower on broomsticks, be chased by Dementors and menaced by the Whomping Willow. It's. so. thrilling. I forgot how ALIVE a good theme park ride can make you feel! 

What I regret about growing up is that I have to warm up to theme park rides and other high-octane thrills, where as a child I just leaped on like it was my native element. I spent the first half of the first ride wondering if I was going to lose my breakfast, but somehow it's like it all snapped into place on the Quidditch pitch and it was no longer dizzying but thrilling. Suddenly my blood was whizzing and my heart was beating for the fun of it, rather than out of necessity. Alive. Thank you, God. 

Outside the castle is Hagrid's Hut. As you wait in line, you can hear Fang barking inside. 

You get close to the ride and can't quite make out what this giant pile of sticks is about...

(Another borrowed photo. Thanks, Melissa!)

And then you see it. Robotic hippogriff. Awe. some. 

Meet Miles' first roller-coaster!

He was... well, a bit scared. But kept a brave face throughout. He says, "My favorite part was the part where we went slow." 

Lunchtime!

Fish n Chips and foamy, delicious BUTTERBEER in the Three Broomsticks, obviously!

See the Hog's Head? See it???

We ate next to the cauldron. Because, CAULDRON.

Palm trees outside. Scotland's changed since I saw it last. :-)

We scored a free drink & got to try the pumpkin juice. Spicy, cool and refreshing!

Time for some more wandering:

Recognize the dress?

From the Gilderoy Lockheart display. 

Owls in the belfry of the Owl Post Office

I had so much trouble deciding what I wanted at the many gift shops. I was just in love with these stuffed HP animals!

Fluffy!

Buckbeak!

I REALLY wanted Crookshanks. 

Aragog

We eventually decided upon a wand, which we have since used to convince Miles that he is a wizard, when he successfully opened a door using "Alohomora." Good value.

One of several performances. 

It's so beautiful. 

We did take a break from Hogsmeade and spent some time in other parts of the Islands of Adventure. For one thing, Adele and August needed to find some fun for the pint-sized somewhere!

On to Jurassic Park:

Robot new baby. 

They let Miles name a hatchling. He named it, Lucy. We have a birth certificate.

Then, to Dr. Seuss World.

She is so ready to ride the "chug-a-bugs" as she calls all rides for tinies. (From a book...)

Aug was pretty darned excited himself!

She just lit up when the thing got going. She kept saying, "I like this! I like this!" I'd have done it several more rounds than we had time for, for that face.

Adele was big enough to ride the flying fish. She was delighted! until they started squirting water at her. Whoo, was she mad at those fish!

Miles didn't mind the wet at all!

All in all, to re-phrase the Weasley twins, one of my better birthdays.

Sometimes you have to do something extraordinary to rediscover the magic of living. Pray, won't you, that this year contains extraordinary gifts of grace for Melissa, Josh, and August?
It's my birthday wish.