One of my first memories of magic was thanks to my grandfather, who I used to call Bill as a child because I couldn't pronounce his favorite nickname. When I was just a wee piglet (as Bill would say) I loved to visit my grandparents at their home near Lake Barcroft in Falls Church, Virginia. During these visits, my grandparents would often take me to my favorite beach on the lake — Beach Four. Sometimes Bill would take me by himself to the lake. He used these one-on-one times to teach me magic.

My Bill would set up elaborate (at least they seemed to then) treasure hunts by writing messages in the sand. The messages would lead me from the beach to the parking lot, to the lifeguard stand, to the water’s edge, and to a small patch of trees near by.

Towards the end of these treasure hunts, I would often need to find a magical leaf. I’d bring the most beautiful leaf I could find to Bill, and he would examine it closely, eventually finding the small magical text that only he could read because of his magical powers.

The leaf would say “Throw me up in the air, and wherever I land, dig a hole, for there you will find buried treasure.” I’d throw the leave up, and start digging in the sand with my little plastic shovel. I went to Bill. “There’s nothing there!”

“you have to keep digging,” he’d say. I kept digging.

Eventually, he would say “I think you need to go down to the water and rinse your shovel off.”

So I’d run down and rinse the shovel off, and when I’d come back, somehow, just covered in sand at the bottom of the hole, was a beautiful dollar coin or an amazing glass thumb marble with colorful swirls inside.

Of course, eventually I figured out his trick, but that doesn't take away the magical aura of those childhood memories.

Much later in life, when I became a fairy princess, I learned in great detail, exactly how to do magic tricks. It’s a lot of work. It’s involves rational thinking and spatial skills. It requires planning, study, the right tools and equipment, and a whole lot of confidence and flair. But almost nothing beat seeing the amazed expression on those kids faces, and knowing that I created memories for them that they will treasure just like I cherish my memory of Bill’s treasure hunts.

From this I am reminded that life  is about creating magical moments for other people, and appreciating the magic that other people bring to our life.

IT IS NO ONE’S RESPONSIBILITY OR DUTY TO CREATE THESE MOMENTS FOR US.

We must create them for ourselves and for each otherout of love. That’s why we are here.