For those of us who choose to navigate life's journey guided by the spiritual hand of the sun, the moon, the stars, the animals and the trees, life is simple yet grand and unending. I believe that all of us carry the heart and the spirit of the animals that have been close to us as we've moved from one lifetime to another. For some it is the heart of the snow leopard and the spirit of the horse. For me it is the heart of the bear and the spirit of the wolf. The essence of who and what we are....heart and spirit.

I have a simple wish today. It is that the spirits of all those who have gone before me ride free on the wind. May peace wrap itself around them and never let them go. May those of us in this world stand down and listen closely to the words of Chief Joseph. His message is simple, yet surely the most profound words ever spoken. "I will fight no more forever."

Moonlight washed over the lovers as they lay sleeping, Monique with her head resting on Vincent’s chest. A gentle summer breeze glided through the window, bringing with it the sound of a long, lonesome train whistle in the distance. Vincent felt himself transported through time, holding Monique’s hand tightly as they found themselves in a familiar place, standing together on a boarding platform in front of an abandoned railway station deep in the desert. Monique’s expression mirrored a sense of wonder and anxiety. Vincent smiled down at her. “It’s okay, my sweet. All is well. This is a journey we were destined to take.” His reassuring smile seemed to ease her concern.
Moments later a sleek, black locomotive came into view, pulling seven railcars behind. It came to a stop in front of the railway station and a familiar face appeared. “Ahoy, Jensen! It’s been a long time, my friend.” Vincent smiled at the tall, stately looking man standing in front of him and shook his hand. Jensen had been the conductor on the Hitchcock Railway the entire time Vincent had been riding and they had developed a deep friendship for one another.
“Andrew awaits your arrival, my friend. Do be sure not to keep him waiting. He has been unusually impatient of late.” A concerned expression crossed Jensen’s face.
Vincent looked surprised. “Andrew, impatient? What the hell IS the spirit world coming to?” Vincent flashed Jensen a wry smile as he and Monique boarded the train and made their way to the dining car. Andrew sat at a table by the window and smiled as they approached. “Ah, Vincenzo! And my lovely Monique. Oh my! Let me feast my eyes upon you. You look even more ravashing than I remember. It appears that Vincent has been treating you extremely well!”
“Ya know, you’ve got a hell of a lot of lust in you for a spirit guide.” Vincent chuckled slightly.
Andrew blushed slightly as he smiled shyly. “Even a spirit guide can’t resist the charms of someone so beautiful.”
“Well, Andrew! I never realized I had that effect on you. And I do believe your actually blushing!”
Monique wriggled in her seat, smiliing wickedly. “I’m flattered!”
“And aroused!” Vincent grinned. “Damn! What’d you do, summon us here so you can arouse my lover?”
Andrew looked away for a moment, obviously embarrassed. “I apologize. I seem to have acted in a way not befitting of me.”
Monique and Vincent broke into laughter. “Calm yourself, my friend. We were only joking with you. No offense was taken, at least not by me.”
Monique smiled. “No offense at all! I truly am flattered and maybe even a bit aroused.”
The three sat talking and sharing coffee as they reminisced about all that had taken place since they were last together. Hours passed as the train rolled through the night. At daybreak they were nearing their destination, the familiar, rustic cabin sitting near the sea that Vincent called his sanctuary. They disembarked and made their way up the well-worn trail to the cabin. Andrew and Monique settled into chairs at the table while Vincent prowled the galley. Soon he appeared carrying a plate filled with fruits and vegetables. He poured a cup of tea into his cup and sat down. He peered across the table at his friend, Andrew. “Well, my friend, you’ve been wanting to say something ever since we joined you, but you haven’t yet. Is the news you bring so bad you can’t share it easily?”
“Not bad news, my friend. Not at all. Just a concern. You do realize that since becoming a spirit guide you have inherited a series of responsibilities you didn’t have before?”
Vincent nodded. “I do. And I take them damn seriously. Have I done something I shouldn’t?”
“Not at all. But . . .you are certainly the most unorthodox spirit guide in existence. There’s no doubt of that. In fact your actions border on incorrigable at times.”
“Huh. Well, there’s no surprises there. I’ve been unorthodox and incorrigable most of my life. That’s surely no secret. But I have done all that has been requested of me. Paul and Margo are living happily together in the midwest, Tawny and Amos are together and Bridgette has a career that exceeded her wildest dreams. Not bad for someone so unorthodox, I’d say.”
“You’ve perforrned admirably, my friend. I was referring more to your relationship with Monique. You’ve become far more, shall we say, romantically involved than is practical.”
Monique smiled. “I’m not complaining, Andrew. Not at all.”
Andrew smiled. “I should think not! You two have followed your passions all over the spectrum of human emotion. I am amazed. And I suppose as long as you both maintain your perspective all will be well.”
“Not to worry, my friend. All is well. I am in full control of my destiny as is Monique.” Vincent smiled as he peeled an orange and split it with Monique. The conversation ebbed and flowed through the entire morning and the warmth of the sun heated the inside of the cabin considerably. Monique began to disrobe, insisting it was too warm in the cabin. Andrew smiled and excused himself. “It appears you two would like some privacy. I’m going to walk down to the shore and commune with nature for awhile.”
As Andrew disappeared from sight, Monique took Vincent’s hand and dragged him out of his chair. “Now you’re mine. I don’t want to wait another minute.”
Moments later they fell into bed, Monique’s hands everywhere, exploring Vincent’s body, kissing and nibbling him as she let the full force of her passion burst free. Vincent ran his hands down her shoulders, slowly massaging her skin, letting his fingers light fires of passion everywhere he touched. He captured her breasts, one in each hand and gently plied her erect nipples. Monique moved up his body and Vincent slowly nibbled and licked. His fingers found their way to her eager pussy and he teased her lips with light strokes that drove her wild. He could feel her hips surging as waves of desire washed over her. With a sudden move he rolled her onto her stomach, wrapped his arms around her hips and pulled her into position to make love to her from behind. His erect shaft slowly penetrated her quivering pussy and she moaned loudly as he entered her. Vincent gripped her ass cheeks with both hands, pulling her into him as his hips thrust him deeper into her. Monique gasped for breath as she felt herself growing hotter by the moment. Vincent pulled her arms back, holding them as he lunged into her with long, powerful strokes. Monique was completely subdued, barely able to move as she felt herself being taken with a furious burst of heat and passion. The sensation of Vincent’s cock pounding into her drew screams of ecstacy from her as she moved wildly back and forth, her body rocking in unison with Vincent. Her screams grew louder as she felt sensations of climax shooting from her feet to her head. “Oh! Oh! God, Vincent . . .Oh! I’m going to . . .oh God! Oh!” Monique erupted with a burst of warm love liquid.
Vincent slowly pulled free, grinning at his lover as he rolled her over. Monique wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him close, feeling his erect cock go deep into her again. Vincent thrust himself into her with powerful lunges, his climax close at hand. Monique felt herself growing hotter once again as the incredible sensations swept over her like a blanket of fire. Vincent’s breath came in ragged gasps as he neared release. Monique thrust her hips upward, anxious to meet his every move. Suddenly their screams blended in a primal release of sight and sound and passionate fury. Vincent collapsed on top of his lover, breathing heavily as a contented smile crossed his face. They lay together sharing gentle kisses, holding each other as a gentle breeze blew over them.
As Vincent rolled over and reached to retrieve a cigarette from his pack he saw Andrew standing at the foot of the bed, undressed and obviously thoroughly aroused. “Jesus flame’n Christ, man! You shocked the shit outa me!”
Andrew smiled. “I know this is unusual to say the least, but may I join you?”
Monique smiled wickedly as she realized one of her fantasies was about to become reality. Vincent slid across the bed, sitting on the edge, smiling at his lover. “Who says wishes don’t come true?”
Andrew lay down next to Monique, kissing her gently as he slowly stroked her magnificent body. Monique’s muscles quivered as the magic of Andrew’s touch drove her slowly insane with desire. Andrew was an interesting contrast to Vincent. Though less intense and forceful than Vincent, he was magical in his own way. Monique found herself wild with arousal as she unleashed herself, taking Andrew every way she knew to. She rolled on top of him, letting her hips slowly descend as she trapped his rock-hard erection with her hungry muff. She slowly worked her hips in a rhythmic motion as she clawed at his chest with her fingers. Andrew thrust his hips up to meet her every move. Monique gasped with pleasure as her hips pumped harder and faster. Andrew gripped Monique’s waist with both hands, gasping and groaning as he edged closer and closer to ejaculation. Monique threw her head back, her long hair swaying wildly as she screamed with pleasure.
Vincent was astounded. It was a part of Andrew he’d never witnessed. His assumptions about Andrew were disappearing like ice on a hot tin roof. It was an act of sharing he’d never before experienced. He watched in fascination as Andrew and Monique erupted in a mutual blaze of orgasmic pleasure, the room reverberating with the sounds of their love.
From somewhere far away, Vincent could hear the sound of a phone ringing. It made no sense to him. There was no phone for miles. But the sound continued, gradually rousing him from deep sleep. He opened his eyes and scowled at the phone by the bed. “This better be one hell of an important call!” He growled as he reached to answer.

The definition of magic is this. "The art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of various techniques that presumeably secure human control of supernatural agencies or the forces of nature."
I find myself disagreeing to an extent, all due respect to Webster, Funk, Wagnall, et al. I believe the desired effects we seek are all around us. The magic, like gravity and the ozone layer are a part of nature. A part of the world in which we exist. Manipulation of the magic is, I believe, not possible. Those who choose to sail the seas soon learn the importance of becoming one with the oceans. Those who choose to grow things from the earth soon learn to become one with the soil. Those who choose to fly soon learn to become one with the wind. And so it is with magic.
It is possible to hold magic in your hands. When you hold your lover's face in your hands and the love in your lover's eyes blends with the love in yours, you are holding magic in your hands. When you hold a child in your arms and they smile at you with an expression of innocent love, it is magic your holding in your hands. When you embrace an old and dear friend you are holding magic in your hands. When you let your fingers caress a musical instrument and the sounds flow like wine, you are holding magic in your hands. When your fingers fly across the keyboard of your computer creating words and phrases and sentences, you are holding magic in your hands.
Magic is everywhere. Magic is in us all. Dare to hold it. Know the wonder that comes with . . .holding magic in your hands.

During the time that Chey was in the wrestling business I had the opportunity to learn about human nature in ways I never realized exist. Among the fascinating bits of odd knowledge I gained was the kinds of fear I'd never really given any thought to. Some of my fears were more common than I realized.
I was, for a very long time, fearful of being in front of a crowd of people. I can still recall the nights I was playing gigs and the fear of being on stage sweeping over me like a wave of cold water. It took all my self-control not to let it show and then the magic of the music would sweep over me and I found myself lost in a world all my own.
As I met and became friends with the women in the wrestling business I was amazed to discover that many of them shared that same fear. "How," I wondered, "Can someone so flamboyant and seemingly fearless be so afraid of a crowd?" Then I began to learn and appreciate what those who choose a career as an entertainer go through. And I learned that they, like me, had learned to lose themselves in the magic of the moment.
Watching someone initially shy and introverted transform themselves into someone quite different was amazing. And seeing them lose that fear as the crowds cheered for them and mobbed them asking for autographs was enough to make even the jaded eyes of old Captain Morgan smile.
In the wrestling business one of the first lessons learned is how to fall. A mistake can lead to serious injury. Wrestling rings are built with a lot of flexibility, but a hard fall done improperly can be serious just the same. And so I came to realize just how much self-control it required to fall backward from a standing position and not exhibit even a hint of fear.
And, of course, there was the fear of pain. I had known for many years that pain is an equal mix of physical and mental perception. Dealing with pain requires a strong and focused mind. Watching someone learn to develop that ability was amazing to me. So much of what I took for granted others had to learn. It was then I discovered....
fear from a different perspective.