Don't Blink

I'm sure when the name Robin Hood is mentioned various personages or characters spring to mind. For some, Errol Flynn is the face that lends Robin Hood life. In later years, it might be Kevin Costner or even Russell Crowe. Some of you might remember the Disney rendition where Robin Hood was a fox, while others with a more wacky reference would remember Mel Brooks' Robin Hood, Men in Tights. The infamous outlaw has been a part of history and legend for practically one thousand years, but little is known about him including if he actually existed.

I read with interest Jim Castagnera's column on conspiracies last week and have written about some of those conspiracies he cites from a recent poll. It is interesting to view public opinion about various conspiracies and see where belief lies, but I point out with caution that because the majority of the public opinion believes or doesn't believe a position does not necessarily make it so. Some conspiracies are utterly stupid while others are framed to sound implausible. There is a difference between the two perspectives.

My Aunt Esther and I had some wonderful conversations over the years about philosophy, religion and life. When she passed away in 2010, those conversations became fond memories and I can recall many of them which keeps her memory alive for me. She would have been 93 this year and my grandmother would have been 101 years old. We spent many evenings around her kitchen table conversing and playing cards when my aunt and uncle would come and visit from Baltimore periodically. The topics were many ranging from family to life and philosophy.

I want to share a story this week with all of you. Four years ago in 2009, I was laid off after working 20 years in several different positions continuously not to count the three summers I worked while in college. As many of you know, I'm a magician as well as an IT professional and I have been performing magic shows on the side at least up until the economy tanked four years ago. Most of my entertainer friends are still struggling to make ends meet, but fortunately my IT background has paid off in that I was able to find work again.