Abracadabra!

Yesterday I woke up without anything on my daily agenda. This was not because there isn't a mounting list of things that I should be doing, or even things that need to be done. It was simply too hot to tackle more housework, and I wasn't inclined to torture myself by working in the yard.

As I was trying to figure out what to do with the day, I logged onto the computer to check my email and Facebook messages. As luck would have it, I read a post that provided me with my answer: a magician was going to be performing at the Animal Park, and I knew that Robby would love the show!

After teasing Robby for about two hours by claiming to have a secret, it wasn't difficult to corral him to the car. He tried to guess our surprise destination during the entire drive. When we pulled into the Animal Park parking lot, and I told him that we were going to a magic show, he threw his little arms around my waist and proclaimed me to be the "best Momom in the whole wide world."

Robby took a seat directly in front of the stage and waited patiently for the show to begin. He looked like such a big boy sitting in the audience! I have to admit that it made me a little sad to see him looking so grown up.

Robby was utterly amazed by the magical feats being demonstrated. He actively participated with the young audience, chanting "Abracadabra" on cue. His belly laugh was contagious, even the magician began to giggle upon hearing Robby.

I thought that Robby was going to jump out of his skin when he was called onto the stage to assist with a trick. (Okay, I was pretty excited about it as well!) He beamed as he waved the magic wand and a jelly sandwich magically appeared in a paper bag. He is still talking about working as a "magic helper" and, although he tried several times, he couldn't recreate the trick at home. (He blames the goldfish bread for the failure.)



The magician taught the audience how to perform several simple tricks during the course of the show. At the conclusion of the performance, he invited all of the children onto the stage to demonstrate the trick that they learned. Perhaps it was the heat, but none of the young audience members remembered the trick.

Child after child took the stage to demonstrate the same magic disappearing act. After instructing the audience to close their eyes, each child frantically ran and hid behind the black curtain on stage. At first the trick was cute. After the fourth child, only their parents found it endearing.

Robby patiently waited in line. Finally, he took the stage. As he was smiling broadly, I prepared to watch him repeat the same disappearing act performed by all of the children before him. Since he is my kid, I was prepared to applaud and take pictures.

"I need a beautiful assistant, please" he announced. He then pointed and called me onto the stage. "Lovely Momom, I need you to help me with this trick. Have a seat, my magical assistant." He was so serious, it was cute and I complied!

Robby then faced the audience and proclaimed "You are going to be amazed by trick. It is crazy! (Envision him dramatically throwing his hands over his head for emphasis.) When I say Abracadabra, I will take the leg off of my lovely, um, person." In a flash he screamed Abracadabra, pressed the valve on me leg and gave it a pull. "Ta Da!"

All of the adults in the audience were squirming uncomfortably, trying to not snicker or look in my direction as I grabbed my leg and put it back on. The magician was speechless for the first time since the show began. However, every child was utterly mesmerized and amazed by Robby's feat of magic. He received a rousing applause from the young audience while all of the adults sat stone faced.

After slipping my leg back on, I stepped off the side of the stage and waited under a tree. I was embarrassed, but that feeling quickly faded. In that moment, I realized that Robby is proud of me. He doesn't see anything "shameful" about my limb loss. I began to stand straighter and hold my head high. All of the other parents might have been mortified by my son's trick, but at least he was creative!