Magic
I think of the word “magic” and it conjures up images of a man in a black cape, with a wand, and pulling white rabbits from a hat or making things appear and disappear with the wave of the wand. But that’s not really magic, it’s just illusion. And it’s fun to watch but it’s not magic.
But there is really is such a thing as real magic. I’ve experienced it and so have you. We’ve all been blessed with magic moments.
The other day I went to my oldest granddaughter’s spring concert. She’s in junior high school and she plays the flute in the school orchestra. She’s really a really good flute player, and more importantly, she’s got the kindest, sweetest, gentlest heart in all the world. She typifies the word “sweetheart”. I’m proud of her. I know for her this concert is a magic moment. Knowing her family is watching, listening to the enthusiastic applause of the audience, the magic was there for her and I knew she felt it.
It was magic for me as well.
As I watched the orchestra and my granddaughter, my mind drifted back to the days when I was in school. It seemed that there were many moments as I was growing up. I was a really good baseball player and I played several years in Little League baseball. The smell of the diamond, the noise of the crowd, and knowing my grandfather was watching – these were all magic – magic moments – magic days – magic times.
I thought about growing up and all the magic we have in our lives. There are so many firsts when you’re young and growing up. So many firsts and so many magic moments. The first day of school. The first day of summer vacation, the first day of junior high, the first day of high school, the first time I kissed a girl, the dances and concerts and then graduating from high school. Magic moments and magic times.
Then you go to college and there were many moments during the college years that I can recall, but I’m not sure I’d label them as “magic”. If’ you went to college, I’m pretty sure you know what I mean.
But it the day I got married was a magic day. Magic and a bit frightening too. When you get married for the first time it is like embarking on a trip down the Amazon – you never know what is up around the next bend in the river. Getting married and living together on your own is like being tossed in a boat and set adrift on a river. You quickly learn a lot or you’re in trouble. But still, there’s magic in that boat – lots of it.
Then when you realize you’re pregnant and you’re going to have your first child. Talk about magic. It’s scary magic – but it’s magic nevertheless.
The birth of your first child – talk about magic. That’s MAGIC! There are no manuals on how to be a good parent; the baby doesn’t come with an owner’s manual. But every new event with that child is magic. The first birthday, the first word, the first step, the first day of school. Having a child is magic. Raising a child is magic.
Your kids grow up and go on with their own lives and all the magic moments for the first time come more in memories than events. Then one day, a magic moment comes again – your first grandchild. A truly magic moment. And if you’re lucky you’ll have more magic moments – more grandchildren. And if you’re really, really lucky, you’ll see your grandchildren often. Because when you do, you’ll have many magic moments.
I have another granddaughter who is precocious and charming. She lives quite a distance away from me so I don’t see her as much as I’d like. But every summer she spends a week with me and those are magic weeks for sure.
I’ve got an old pickup truck that I use to haul yard waste to the communal compost pile. That’s the only reason I hang on to it. It’s 23 years old and it’s a clunker but it runs. Anyway, last summer when my granddaughter was here, we were going to go to the bank and the grocery store. She loves that old truck because it has a 5-speed manual transmission and it’s loud because the muffler is a bit ratty. So, I say sure, we can take the truck, and off we go. We go to the bank and I use the ATM to take out some cash. She asked if I was a “billionaire” when she saw the money coming out of the machine. I looked at her and said “If I were a billionaire, do you think I’d be driving this old truck? This truck looks it belongs to a guy who lives behind a dumpster!” My granddaughter laughed and laughed – she laughed so hard she couldn’t stop. Magic. It was a magic moment I”ll never forget. And now every time I think if it, I get a little magic feeling.
I’ve been lucky to have so many magic moments in my lifetime. And though as I grow older the number of magic moments become rarer, I can find magic in memories and I often do.
The concert is over, and my granddaughter, still clutching her flute, runs up to me and gives me a big hug. She’s such a sweetheart.
It’s magic.
I loved this bit about Magic Moments. I, too, consider life full of them. Some made by my many grandchildren and some made by the many children I worked with( and loved) as a school teacher. The past two years have been full of them – high school graduations, college graduations, piano recitals by small grandkids, art shows by bigger ones, and any time you get a “huge childish hug”. Thanks for sharing and reminding me how great all that can be.