Harry Potter takes his son to Platform 9 ¾ (1 Sept 2017)

In the final book in the Harry Potter series, we are flashed forward 19 years to the day that we see Harry, Ron, and Hermione (and, okay, Draco too) take their kids to the Hogwarts Express to begin their time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now it so happens that we know the Hogwarts Express always departs on the 1st of September (at 11 AM) and we know the years that the events of Harry’s Hogwarts time took place (see CinemaBLEND for a thorough delineation), AND SO we know that the Potters and Weasley-Grangers (and Malfoys) arrive at Platform 9 ¾ on 1 September 2017.  THIS YEAR!

We have caught up to the future that JK foretold! See where the whole Hogwarts gang is now (literally NOW) thanks to EW.

How to Commemorate

• Go to a train station. Look for a portkey to Platform 9 ¾.
• Wear your Hogwarts house gear. (You have some, right?)
• Walk into a brick wall. But not.
• Throw a Potter party (especially if you missed his birthday).
• Look up boarding schools to send your children to. (As if you parents haven’t done this a hundred times already.)
• Send a student a care package. Brownies are always acceptable.

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Works Cited

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Amazon    Barnes & Noble    Public Libraries

John Carter Day

To honor the birthday of Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875), let's celebrate his character John Carter--a regular post-Civil-War guy who gets transported to Mars. Like you do.  The books are terrific, but I'm a special fan of the movie.  Basically the plot is: A dad goes to Mars, kicks all kinds of alien ass, brings peace, and outsmarts the preternatural overlords.  My kind of story!

How to Commemorate:
Jump a lot.
Call people "Virginia."
Go to Mars. (Ok, at least look at NASA's plans.)

Princess of Mars series (book)
Amazon.     Barnes & Noble.     Public Libraries.

John Carter (movie)
Amazon.     Barnes & Noble.     Public Libraries.