(no subject)
Magic
My wife and I had a date night at the Magic Castle. I love magic and I love that place. The walls there ooze magical mystery and whisper secrets from days when magicians ruled the headlines of the world and were held in awe by millions. When I was in high school I grew up with Harry Blackstone III, and since I was ASB President and we were always looking for ways to raise money, I asked his father, the great Harry Blackstone Jr., if he would perform a fund raiser for us. He did multiple times. And as I stood backstage each time he performed for free the tricks passed down from his father, the legendary Harry Blackstone, I was amazed by not only how quick his fingers were, but also by the way he held audiences in his hands. That was his real magic.
But getting back to the Castle and my date night. While my wife and I were at the magic performances after dinner, I got called to participate in two different shows. Both magicians must have seen my enthusiasm for magic, or thought me to look like a sucker. Either way, it was fun. In the Parlour of Prestidigitation I went on stage and assisted the amazing Paul Green. What a kick he was, and even though I stood two feet away, I had no idea how he did what he did. In the Palace of Mystery my participation was a lot less, but still I was amazed by Ice McDonald and how he kept pulling pigeons out of thin air.
Like good writing, good magic holds that special wow factor. It can take us someplace special. The evening went too fast, as usual. But the magic still lingers.