In my "In Box"

Tom,

I have been reading you blog for longer than I remember. I'm embarrased that I haven't e-mailed you to tell, how much I enjoy it. I'm going to paste in my Magic Profile and then I'll comment on your content.
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Magical Entertainer for 30 years (Close up as well as Comedy Magic Stand up show)

I started in 1972 as a purely sleight of hand performer. John Mendoza was my favorite as well as talented sleight of hand performer. John was very well read in magic and expected the same from me, if I were to be his student. In 1978 my employment required me to go to Chicago very week. I forced my introduction to Ed Marlo the premier card magic genius. After about a year I was a member of the Chicago Round table. The Table at this time was fantastic the members were:

Steve Draun
Simon Aronson
David Soloman
Randy Wakeman
Bill Malone
Jack Pyle
Frank Shank
Tommy Edwards
And myself

I was at the table every Saturday for the next 10 years. This group was dialed in to the finest sleight of hand performers in the world. I must also mention that the table was guests to magicians that were in Chicago lecturing or on personal business. The ones that I remember were:

Tommy Wonder
Ricky Jay
Martin Nash
Don England
Mike Skinner
Bob Stencil
And probably at least a dozen that I’ve forgotten to mention:

This was the start of my sleight of hand education. I also attended almost every lecture at Magic Inc. I also was a member of FFFF group for 10 years where I also saw every magic idol, I could ever imagine meeting. At the 1984 Magic Symposium, In San Francisco I met Shigeo Takagi. Mr. Takagi was Japan’s greatest magic influence; he was a master of stand up as well as close up magic. Mr. Takagi loved my magic and promoted my Lecture tour of Japan in 1992. In 1997 I went to Boca Raton to work at Malone’s Magic Bar in the Boca Raton Resort. Doing magic for a career 5 days a week would hone anyone’s
skill. The Bar employed Bill Malone’s hand picked magicians; we worked theMagic Bar as well as Bill’s lucrative corp. shows.

I started doing Comedy Stand up the 80’s. The money was much better as well as easier than sleight of hand. I had the same passion to search out the best exponents of the specialized art.

Mark Yeager April 7, 2003
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Frank,

The first thing that I was impressed with was your passion for magic as well as your love for your children. I am divorced as well, I got divorced when my son was 9 years old. It was hard but I had to do it. My son hated me at the time I did it, his exact comment as I left was " You ruined my life forever". It felt like a knife twisting into my heart. That was 12 years ago, and with honesty and commitment from me. We have a great relationship today. My point is that things will change with commitment and passion. You are a shining example of this!!! Bravo!!

I feel that your honesty about life's challenges, also is fantastic. I must applaud you for discussing to the world, your feelings and vices. Everyone including myself try to hide these from friends and family, you allow the world to look into your inner most thoughts and feeling.

I love the images that you add to your blog. I am a student of the history of the art of Magic. I'm in the process of converting my 25 years of magic video to DVD. I appreciate your sharing of your performances and interesting video. I know that this was long, but I felt that I had to show my appreciation for your blog.

Best,

Mark Yeager