The Metamorphosis Fold

My journey in magic is often mysterious and full of surprises. You might think that I’m talking about the “A-Ha” moments that come from learning new secrets and practicing the skills needed to bring those secrets to life, and yes, you would be right. However, the real mysteries of magic seem to appear, well, out of thin air, when I least expect them.

Some backstory is appropriate. For the past couple of months, both of my wife’s parents and my Father have spent time in the hospital, all 3 with pretty serious health issues.  As you might imagine, stress levels have been high. Days became a daze of work, hospital visits, and uncertainty. There has been little time for anything but anxiety - certainly precious little time or focus for magic.

We had booked a cruise last summer, and as the date drew near, we really didn’t expect that we would be able to go. The day before boarding, things looked better for all, and we flew to NYC, still wondering if we’d be forced to fly right back the next day. Somehow we were able to walk up the gangplank and sail away, knowing that we’d have precious little contact with those back home for some days.

When we’ve taken other cruises, I’ve enjoyed doing a few effects for fellow passengers. Sitting at a ship bar shooting the breeze with strangers is a natural environment to work magic into the conversation, make new friends, and perhaps make some connections (you never know who you might be talking to on a cruise ship). Out of reflex, I loaded up my bag with my usual close-up carries, but I really didn’t think I’d have it in me to foist my magic on people this trip.

I wasn’t wrong. I spent most of the trip trying to relax and not worry about the parents. We were nearing the end of the cruise before I finally did one mind-reading effect for a couple at the bar, and while it went well and they were surprised and pleased, I really wasn’t feeling the magic. 

The news from home, while still not great, was better when we left the ship, but both my wife and I agreed that the getaway hadn’t made much of a dent in our burnout. We ate in silence at a restaurant in La Guardia, waiting for our flight back to reality. Magic was the last thing on my mind until our server started a conversation with us.

On the surface, she was upbeat and in control, but it became clear the longer we talked that she had her own demons and was at the end of her rope. As we talked, I tried to think of something I could do to make this woman smile (on top of a good tip).

I started folding Bob Neale’s “Bunny Bill” a few years ago, and I always keep a few in my wallet to share, mostly with kids, but something told me to present one to our server. I did my little spiel, showed her the dollar bill folded into a top hat, snapped my fingers, and the bunny popped out of the hat. Her eyes widened, then teared up as I gave her the bill. She said, “When I woke up today, I felt nothing but bad karma, that something bad would happen today. But now, here is magic! The bad karma is gone!”

She asked if she could hug me, which she did, as well as kissing me on the cheek… then grabbed my wife and hugged her too. Smiling and waving at us as we left, she looked like a woman transformed.

What is magic? It’s a big question, full of mysteries and surprises, but in that moment I was reminded of one of the biggest secrets. At its core, magic is about engaging, transforming the moment, and giving the audience a sense of possibility - even when life is at its most impossible. I suppose it could be argued that there isn’t much magic in a dollar bill folded into a rabbit in a top hat, but at that moment I felt more like a magician than I had in some time.