Day 131 – May 11, 2010 :: The Guest Book

The last evidence of our weekend guest magician, who has departed for his next lecture.  This book contains a photo and signature (and sometimes a more lengthy note) from every magician who has spent a night in the “Jensen B&B”.  Not all the lecturers stay here – some are local or stay with other friends or family in the area, some have had to head immediately on to their next engagement, and a few have opted to stay in hotels.  The first guest was 10½ years ago, when we filled in for the previous lecture coordinator who was unavailable to host. It was a long while after that before the next one, but two dozen more have passed through here since Mark began coordinating the area lectures over four years ago.

It’s been an interesting experience to welcome these unique individuals from all over the world into our home. Most have come alone; a few have brought along a friend or spouse. They have had all manner of personalities, from loud and boisterous to very quiet and reserved.  They’ve ranged in age from 21 to 97.  A few have been a little full of themselves; most have been very down to earth. Sometimes Matthew and Kaylee are in school or in bed pretty much the whole time the guests are at the house. Of those who have been around to meet and spend time with them, some have embraced the opportunity to entertain the kids, and others have not quite known what to do with themselves around the pint-sized alien beings. 

Not one of them has fit into the stereotypical “magician” persona. Any pre-conceived notions I may have had about how a magician should talk or act have gone out the window.

I initially agreed to do this to make Mark happy… and he’s in seventh heaven getting to hang out with these guys, show off his collection, and talk magic until the wee hours of the night… but I never thought I’d enjoy it too. While some of the guests have been a mere blur in and out of the house as the event schedule kept them hopping, I have sat and had intriguing conversations with others.  I’ve been privileged to be given private magic shows at my kitchen table. On my birthday one year, one guest insisted that the group of magicians present for lunch sing to me, as I blew out a candle on the cake one of them had coincidentally brought along. It has taken a long while for me to get comfortable with the whole hosting thing, but I’m finding that I’ve actually come to look forward to these visits as well.  It’s been quite a time. :)

Now if I could only figure out some way to magically clean the house before they arrive. ;)