JONATHAN PENDRAGON AND THE SEARCH FOR THE GRAIL :: PART 8

I was the first magician in my family. Most of us can say that, and we still feel a sense of community and heritage within the art; perhaps this is because of the secrecy of the craft and the rarity of company. We have to seek each other out and form clubhouses where we can: the back of a bar, a diner, or not-so-local magic shop. Thus, a clubhouse like the Magic Castle becomes the stuff that dreams are made on.

Fifty years ago two men made a handshake deal and the dream was born. MIlt Larsen had been looking for a clubhouse and Tom Glover had been looking for someone to solve a problem he had with a Japanese-style building at the top of a hill. Milt solved that problem, and then asked Tom about another building that was down the hill a bitan old Victorian mansion. That was the humble beginning to what has taken on the form of a myth. On October 31, 2011, the fabric of that myth almost ended as a charred remnanta burnt offering to the gods of Halloween. It didnt; instead, a another chapter was written. This time it wasnt written by two woman.

Erika Larsen is the daughter of two of the Magic Castles founders, Bill and Irene Larsen, and is Milts niece. West McDonough is the granddaughter of Tom Glover. I happen to be in love with both of them. Erika is like a sister to mepart of the family that became my very real Magic family. West is the woman who put the pieces of my life back together, and who has become my beloved companion. Recently I wrote a column on women in magic, partially to answer the moronic questions that appear on magic forums like, Have women contributed anything to magic? When the Los Angeles Fire Departmentit should be noted that both Erika and West, in press interviews, have nothing but high praise for these extraordinary peoplefinally allowed a few individuals to enter the premises, Erika and West entered first.

They worked all day, directing operations and saving the irreplaceable relics that are housed inside. They worked all night, keeping the building safe from thieves and the curious. They searched the entire building for fire and water damage, trying to assess the buildings future. When it was confirmed that, with a lot of work, the building could be reopened sooner than anyone expected, they began to plan the progressive steps that would be taken towards returning the fully functioning clubhouse we all cherish to us. West would come home, give me kiss and an update, and then run out again saying, The Castle needs me. She spent most of the first four days in the Castle and, when I did see her, she never failed to credit Erikas hard work: I dont think she's slept. To which I would remind her that neither had she.

When the Magic Castle reopened Friday night, West was at my side. Member after member came up to embrace her and thank her for all she had done, and for the difficult work still ahead. I felt a great pride and honor being escorted by her through the club, being shown the damage and the hope. What an extraordinary woman at my side, and what an amazing friend over there in corner talking to her mother and her daughter. Myths are made by fools like me, but it helps when you have a muse, and two is better.

Fifty years ago two men stood on a hill and made a handshake deal. Fifty years later two women, their descendants, reaffirmed that deal with blood, sweat and tears.