Hello and welcome to another month with me, Kali! This month we are going to be focusing on some sad things that have happened over the course of the Harry Potter books and Harry Potter movies. From the most recent loss of Maggie Smith to the loss of Alan Rickman, even to the in-book/movie loss of Cedric Diggory, this month we are looking at the sad things that have happened. So, grab a tissue, and let us get started!
This month's Forum Spotlight is going to focus on the Welcome Center. In the Welcome Center, you can find threads for just about everything! From the Introduce Yourself Here thread to the Ask Your Questions Here thread, you can find anything of which you can think. Just recently, they even added a thread for the late great Maggie Smith.
This month's Thread Spotlight is going to focus on In Memory of the Great Dame Maggie Smith, May Her Soul Rest in Eternal Peace. This thread is dedicated to the loss of Maggie Smith, our amazing Professor McGonagall. We recently lost her on September 27th of this year. She was an amazing actor who spanned several generations and touched many lives. If you wish to have someone to talk to about her death, head over to this thread!
This month's Actor Spotlight is focused on Alan Rickman (02/21/1946 - 01/14/2016). Most people in my generation (millennial) knew Alan Rickman as Severus Snape. While we tended not to like Snape, we all had a place in our hearts for Alan. When we lost him in 2016, it hit hard. And it still hits hard for people who were great fans of Snape. It was a sad day when this man passed, as it is when all of our favorite actors have passed.
This month's item spotlight is going to focus on a creature, the Dementors. While technically not considered an item, these creatures had a significant impact on characters in our favorite books and movies. They guarded Azkaban and were known to bring about a lot of sadness and despair when they were around. And their "Dementor's Kiss" was known to be almost worse than death. If I were you, I would avoid them no matter what.
This month's Quote Spotlight is "Remember Cedric Diggory." - Albus Dumbledore in Goblet of Fire. This quote came from Albus in Goblet of Fire after the gruesome death of Cedric at the hands of He Who Shall Not be Named. He was unwillingly and unknowingly brought to his death during the Triwizard Tournament when he and Harry both grabbed onto the portkey at the end of the maze. His death hit all of Hogwarts and everyone who met him.
This month's Character Spotlight is Cedric Diggory (1977 - 06/24/1995). In Goblet of Fire, Cedric was unfortunately lost during the Triwizard Tournament when he and Harry touched the Triwizard cup and were teleported to the cemetery where Voldemort was raised. He lost his life in an unfortunate way all because He Who Shall Not be Named wanted to take Harry's life.
This month's Holiday Spotlight is Good Grief Day which falls on November 26th this year. This holiday was started to honor the birth of Charles M. Shulz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip. Anyone who knows the Peanut's comic, knows that Charlie Brown's famous saying was "Good Grief." So having a day to celebrate the creator of such an iconic children's comic and show, Charles was born on Nov 26, 1922, and passed on Feb 12, 2000. So, if you were a fan of Charlie Brown or are still a fan, celebrate Charles on his birthday this year!
I really hope you kept your tissues close, as I had to as I wrote this article. We have lost so many great actors over the years. Those were all sad times, and they will all be remembered fondly. I know I will miss several for sure. But dry your eyes, celebrate their lives on Good Grief Day, and make sure a dementor is never around you when you are feeling sad. This is Kali signing off to go practice my Patronus Charm!