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Spirits, Smoke, & Mirrors Spent most of the time in airports today, en route to Vegas, baby, Vegas. Although going through security was once again entertaining. Phoenix is easily the biggest airport I've ever been through, and I was expecting a very serious atmosphere, similar to my experience driving through the border. So much for that presupposition. I've never met cooler badges in my life. After being designated a "selectee" for further screening, I was taken to a different lineup. I love that term, "selectee". Sounds like a won something. "Congratulations, you've just won this rubber glove in the..." I was placed inside a huge machine that very much resembled an MRI machine standing up straight. Being a) the curious type and b) the type that never knows to keep his mouth shut, I just had to ask: "What does this thing do, if you don't mind me asking?" Not much else funny today. I wanna take a different thread. I met so many kindred spirits today, it's ridciulous. I met a man that fixed mainframes (huge computers, Dad.) for Hewlett-Packard. A man who could fix his eyes on a sea of numbers, and see the patterns dance in front of his eyes. He could see meaning in things that was just noise to others. I met a man that was on a crew that raced "funny cars". If this is not one of the coolest jobs you can think of, let me know. (Your imagination is better than mine, and I want your secret!) He had an amazing attention to detail, which I'm sure the driver of his "funny car" is very grateful for. (I want that secret, too!) I met for the first time, a woman that goes fly-fishing. Voluntarily. Goes to show that just because it's not "normal" or "accepted", doesn't mean it shouldn't be done. I met Johnny. Johnny worked in restaurants in ******. (I forget what town he was from) One day, he thought to himself; "If I'm going to go out and do fun things with my life, I should go do them." So he moved to Vegas. Johnny is taking life, shaping it, crafting it, and making it his own. What he does from here, no-one knows, including him, I suspect. But whatever it is, it will be interesting, and it will be unique. Mark my words. I (very briefly) met Penn Jillette. This guy, over the course of the last year of listening to his radio show in the States, has become something of a hero for me. OK, maybe hero is a strong term. How about "role model". He's a man with whom I've come to very closely identify with. The reasons will become apparent shortly. Most Canadians have probably never heard of him or his partner, so here's the quick run-down. (It's not "partner" in the "moonlit walks on the beach holding hands" sense... sheesh!) Penn and Teller are a regular magic/comedy act here in Vegas. While both activities are things I greatly appreciate, what I appreciate most about their attitude is that they not only perform a magic trick, but sometimes they'll show you how they did it afterwards. Whether it be an extra pocket sewn into a jacket, a pair of fake legs, or a see-thru prop, so that one can actually see the sleight-of-hand as it occurs. They go out of their way to show you that once you look past the smoke and mirrors, there really isn't anything happening beyond your understanding. That's something you can take far past the confines of the theatre where they perform. That is why their show is special on several levels. Once you know the principle of the "magic" (misdirection), you can start to see beyond it. You don't know exactly what you should be looking for, but you're looking for it. A lot of the time you'll be looking in the wrong place, and miss the "trick". But once, maybe twice a show, you'll see it. You will see the movement the mis-direction was supposed to cover. You'll see what you're not supposed to see. And that is a special kind of magic, all it's own. A magic all your own. After the show, they stood outside and signed autographs. Penn signed my ticket, which, like a goof, I promptly lost three minutes later. But I don't care. I did something more important. Penn himself won't even remember it later tonight. Still don't care. These guys perform for hundreds of fans every night. He's not supposed to remember. But it was important to me. I got to do something I love to do. For someone whose attitude and approach to life helped me develop my own. Off the cuff, in the time it took to shake hands and sign my ticket, I made him laugh. Loud and hard. And I can't tell you how good it feels to be able to do that. Thank you, Penn. And thank you Teller. I know you're a great guy, too. Two people can't spend that much time together willingly and not be of like mind. (Unless there really are moonlit walks on the beach.) :D |