The Long Intermission

 


It's been a while.  I actually started a list of what's gone on since I last took up the pen for this blog.  Here are the magic highlights:

1.  I booked a show in February, which was to happen in September of this year.

2.  COVID hit and I pretty much gave up on magic along with many things in my life, other than eating and imbibing too much.

3.  At the beginning of July, I cut back on everything except training and running a 5k, which reset my head and made me realize that if that gig I still had booked actually did happen, I needed to get back to practicing.


4.  The gig DID happen, at a lovely theatre in Milton Deleware.  It not only went well, but I reconnected with a family I had last seen when I was 8 years old.


5.  I was interviewed by a young man who produces a podcast called "Buddycast."  He learned about me through a mutual magic friend.  I wasn't sure I had much to offer.  I'm told I was wrong about that, but more importantly, I made a new friend.


6.  My new friend, Nick Sorenson, decided to host a fund-raiser called "Buddy Aid" and asked if I would be willing to perform.  I shared the bill with performers I never expected I would ever have the opportunity to join on-stage, virtual though it was.  My co-performers included Chris Herren as Faust, Johnathon Molo, Will Roberts, Tommy Barnett, Ed Underwood, and Kenton Knepper.  I did my thing and was told it went well.  More importantly, I made new friends I might never have met otherwise.


7.  Jeff McBride's Magic and Meaning conference went virtual, and I attended.  2 solid days of learning, laughing, and loving hanging out with my magic people, even long-distance, energized me, and I managed to meet more new friends along the way.

8.  Our buddy Tommy Burnett was struck by a car while walking his dog Benji, and we rallied the troops again to do another Buddy Aid, this time raising funds for Tommy.  I co-hosted with Nick, and the usual suspects appeared, with the addition of my Brutha from another Mother, Jonas Cain. 

9.  I've been developing a Zoom magic show for holiday office parties.  Set in my living room bar, it's called "Holiday Happy Hour at Harry's Place," a tip of the hat to Mr. Houdini.  At the moment I'm in rehearsals and have put out some ads for the show - hopefully, I'll find a taker or two.  

As years go, we can all agree that 2020 has left something to be desired.  For me, life has pretty much been on hold, both at my "day job" and in magic-land.  Yet these highlights, these golden moments when I was able to push past the frustration and depression that has ruled me this year, smile, and make others happy have been just the medicine I needed. And looking back, I've come a long way in my magic journey, even in the past few months. Maybe it hasn't been such a bad year after all.

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