Ashley Smith and the Quest to see Harry Potter

Ever since I saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix with my camp buddies (which was at the midnight premiere I might add) I've been greatly looking forward to the sixth movie- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. As the time for the movie inched forward I got more and more excited. I was crestfallen when the premiere was moved back from November to July. Yet as trailers for the film were released my excitement rose even higher. I was delighted to learn that we were going to be in North Carolina visiting family during the premiere- they are just as big of fans of both the books and the movies as my brothers and I. I knew that this would make the experience even sweeter! Finally July 14th arrived. My Aunt Michelle, Uncle Jay, Jared, Caleb, Lydia, Julia, Tyler, Jordan, and I made plans to go the midnight premiere. It took us a while to get out of their house that day and into town, and when we finally got to the theater at about four o'clock we were devastated to learn that the movie had sold-out. (We would have ordered our tickets online, but my my North Carolina family had just moved into their new castle two days before out arrival, and did not have internet.) As we sulked away from the theater we vowed to see it the night of the 15th.

The day of the 15th all of us girls took a road trip to Atlanta (I learned firsthand why it is nicknamed Hotlanta) to go to the American Girl store to get a doll for my little sister Kyndal. (Which I'll admit was a lot of fun) However, true to Grosse and Smith form, we got away from the house too late and ended up spending more time at the Atlanta mall than we intended. We did not get back to their house until well after ten- far too late for any movie times in such a small town. My spirit was being slowly crushed.

The next day, the 16th, my Aunt Michelle had a big dinner planned and my mom's cousin was coming for dessert. Therefore, we knew that a night movie was out of the question. Waynesville had no matinee showings, but Lydia, my 15 year old cousin, and I were determined. We looked online for movie times in neighboring towns and found a theater with a 3:00 matinee showing. The town was half an hour away, so we left the house an hour and ten minutes before the showing. Should be plenty of time right? Wrong. At least it was not enough time for a directionaly stupid 22 year old and her even more directinaly stupid 15 year old cousin. We got so lost. I mean really, really lost. We ended up in some town that probably no one has ever heard of and had no cell phone signal. We had to use a pay phone (didn't think those existed anymore did ya?) to call my Aunt Michelle so she could help us get home. We finally got home well over three hours later. We had definitely missed the movie. I might have cried a little. Ok a lot. Just kidding! Maybe...

This morning I woke up determined. Not only was I going to see Harry Potter. I was going to see it in the best theater in North Carolina. The boys had decided to go Whitewater rafting, and my Aunt Michelle and Uncle Jay were busy with others things, so it was just Lydia and I again. We found out about a theater in Asheville called the Cinebarre. This is no ordinary theater- it served you full meals at your seat! Lydia and I got both Map Quest and Aunt Michelle directions, and then set off a full two hours before the show. We were not going to take any chances. We made it to the theater with no problems (well except when I almost killed us by accidently cutting off a semitruck) and happily made our way to the ticket booth. When we got there the ticket gal asked for our ID's. Apparently since the theater serves alcohol you have to be at least 18 or have a guardian with you to see a movie. This was no problem for me, but Lydia is only 15. As we gapped at the girl and explained to her that Lydia was my cousin and very mature for a 15 year old and that I promose I would not let her drink a drip of alcohol she took pity on us. She let us in even though she technically was not suppossed to. I think this women should be sainted. It would have been a shame to leave poor Lydia to wait in the car while I watched the movie. :)

So I finally got to see the movie! I also enjoyed a pizza and rootbeer. It was well worth the wait! Some of y'all might think that I am being dramatic and made a big deal out of nothing, but you have to remember who you are talking to (err reading with..) here. If my plans do not go according to well... plan it throws me off. Plus I am a commited Harry Potter fan, and I feel like I let something down by not seeing the midnight premiere. To make up for it Lydia and I are seeing it again with the rest of the family tonight!