Awesome idea, and first I’d just like to wish David a happy birthday.
I have a very interesting story, lets get started.
I still remember that one night when I was seven years old, sitting on our couch and watching TV with my family. I can’t remember what show we were watching, but after it ended, my family members got up to go play a game of cards (poker, I think). I was tired (both of poker and physically), so I decided to stay on the couch. After the commercial break, a David Blaine magic special began to air. I was unsure about what they meant by "street magic", but I was intrigued by the mystique of the introduction, and decided to watch.
I was in a state of complete and utter amazement at the end of the program. Meanwhile, my family had finished playing cards, and I decided to try some of his tricks out. I can still remember my frustration when I snapped my fingers, and the selected card wouldn’t rise to the top of the deck.
I looked in our phone book for a magic store. I found a few, but the one that intrigued me the most was the Eagle Magic Store. In the little ad, it had a quote, "We are the oldest magic store in the country, and we have had everyone in here. Stop by today!"
I cut the ad out, and begged my mom almost relentlessly until one day, she finally agreed to take me to the magic store. I struck up a good relationship with the owner, Larry, one that I still enjoy today. Anyway, when I first walked in, I couldn’t keep my seven year old mouth shut. I blabbered on and on about David Blaine, and how “awesome” his effects were. Larry liked my enthusiasm, and gave me a deck of Bicycle cards that David Blaine had signed. Holding this in my hand was better to me than holding a solid block of gold. I still have that deck today, unopened, and I look at whenever I need inspiration.
Larry also taught me a few very simple card tricks, some of which David had performed on the television special. I performed these non-stop, and would perform them along with David whenever he was on TV.
While David’s magic is some of the best out there, I began to appreciate and recognize him for his stunts as I grew older. They seemed impossible, inhuman, if you will. I looked up to him as a normal person does to Superman.
I wanted to be just like him, so as you would expect, I tried to hold my breath for 8 minutes. I actually passed out for about two minutes after attempting this, and since then, I have done only magic, no inhuman stunts.
He was my idol as I grew older, whenever I was in a slump, I would watch one of his street magic specials (I had all of them recorded), and I would look at what he accomplished. The fact that he could get such reactions with people and affect them on such a deep, personal level was astonishing to me. I remember saying to myself, “Hey, if he can do it, so can I. I just need more practice”.
He not only affected my magic life, but my personal and school life as well. I am a naturally shy person, and if I wouldn’t have been introduced to magic, I never would have obtained my social status that I have today. Magic sort of got me out of my shell, and helped me express myself. Now that I am older, I could do just fine without magic, but I couldn’t have gotten here without it.
He made me want to do well in everything. Looking at how much he had accomplished in his life was breathtaking. Knowing that he was once just like me, a young kid messing with some cards, was unbelievably inspiring. I wanted to become just like him, and I knew that all it took was determination and practice. I applied this all throughout my life, and I began to excel in nearly everything - I have gotten straight A's, I play multiple instruments, I’m in good shape, and I can do magic.
David Blaine was and is the most influential person that I have seen. He made my life better, he inspired me to follow my dreams and do my best. Thanks, David. I appreciate it.
Once again, I would like to wish David a very happy birthday.