Do You Believe in Magic?

Do you believe in magic?

The song by The Lovin’ Spoonful—[singing]“Believe in the magic that can set you free”—I used to crank it up whenever it played on Radio Hauraki.

I do. With grace, goodwill, and a propitious text to a dear friend in the know, I arranged for a magician to perform for mi suegro, Don Miguel, who was gravely ill in the hospital. My father-in-law loves magic.

And who was “el mago”? 

Brian Ochab.

Brian Ochab.

Brian Ochab.

We say his name three times—

And the magic happens. Don Miguel’s grandson Chris had wanted to take him to The Magic Castle in Hollywood, California, but his health was too poor. So, on a Sunday afternoon at three, The Magic Castle—Brian Ochab—came to Don Miguel’s sixth-floor hospital room at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center on Sunset Boulevard.

Brian Ochab is a world-class magician. Look him up…earned the title of International Magic Champion…first place award at the International Brotherhood of Magicians’ Gold Cups Competition…People’s Choice Award from the Society of American Magicians.

Sweet as. Mate, I’m all rabbit ears. What happened?

What happens in a magician’s den/hospital room stays there.

I will say that the first hint of Brian’s wizardry was how the spatial dimensions of the room transcended. The hospital room was big enough for two guests; however, when Brian Ochab got there, it was standing room only for the seventeen magic enthusiasts present: Don Miguel, his esposa, his hijo, two hijas, yerno, six nietos, bisnieto, hermano and his hija, her esposo and their hijo. And mum’s the word on el médico and the nurses poking their heads from behind the curtain.

And ironically the greatest magic Brian Ochab performed wasn’t a trick at all.

Huh?

For one hour, Brian Ochab took our individual base-laden grief at Don Miguel’s condition and transmuted it into a golden moment in time. We all got to share in Don Miguel’s delight at seeing a world-class magician perform his craft at the tip of our noses. We all got to celebrate in Don Miguel’s life together. 

Now that’s magic.

Magic.

Sing it with me:

“Believe in the magic that can set you free.”

∞

Epilogue:

On Monday, October 28, 2024, at 10:30 p.m., with a divine sleight of hand, el Mago Divino made Don Miguel disappear in his hospital room right before his loving familia and me.

Two Words: Reba Hilbert

Ubiquitous. Cool word, eh.

Yeah. I see it everywhere.

Funny. Very funny. You’re quite the Fred Dagg. First came across it in Dad’s Time magazine. Back then, I had a notebook for words I didn’t know where I’d write the meaning, part of speech, and the sentence in which it was used. “Ubiquitous” is one my KBHS Latin teacher, Mr. Staniland, would approve.

And now we have “Word of the Day” on the Internet. And for the word-nerds, grammar freaks amongst us—an editor sure is handy.

You have one?

I do.

Sweet as: quid pro bro!—you spin a yarn; I’m all ears.

Well, first to the business at hand: What I look for in an editor is someone who is competent, has a fast turnaround, and charges a fair rate for their time. There are thousands of people who meet those criteria—enough to fill a phone book (Remember those? She’s under “H.”).

So why Reba Hilbert?

Two words: Reba Hilbert. 

Working with an editor is not only a professional transaction but also a relationship built on trust, respect, and honesty. That does sound like a bumper sticker for your shiny new EV, but for me one developed over many years and five books. 

Birthing your literary sprogs can get messy and bloody, and Reba was my editorial midwife through my self-published works. But once cleaned up…such beauty, such beauty.  

I distinctly remember that when I sent her the first draft of my children’s story, Christmas Yve, a Kiwi Elf’s Dream to join Santa, I was a nervous wreck. I cried. Like when I dropped off my eldest daughter Sadie on her first day of preschool.

Will she be okay? I hope they take good care of her. Will she be different?

And upon her return: “How was it?”

“Mrs. Hilbert taught us about misplaced modifiers.”

And working with Reba does honour the editor-writer privilege: You bare your soul; she makes it whole—grammatically, that is, in the safe working space. Why, you diehard grammar-nerds (I’m secretary of the club) could send Reba a first draft of a love letter to your beloved, and she could improve the grammar and leave the amorous intent sacrosanct.

Finally, Reba Hilbert has an excellent sense of humour. In an editor? Yes. The “e” and “h” words can coexist in the same sentence, eh.

Fancy that.

🥝🥝🥝🥝

Links:

https://rebahilbert.wixsite.com/rebahilbert

https://youtu.be/04avIJWDOhc?si=8aCtDxgXHi2L1PmW

https://time.com

https://www.kbhs.school.nz

https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/calendar

Seventeen Seconds

How long does it take to get from Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand, to Chula Vista, California, USA?

I don’t know…thirteen hours and change.

 

Forty-one years, five months, and twenty-one days.

 

What did you do—swim across the Pacific Ocean, with an extended holiday in Hawaii?

 

Correct that: Seventeen Seconds.

 

1981: Orchard Street, Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand.

Side One:

“A Reflection”

I am an angst-ridden introvert, where reflection becomes a never-ending prison of internal criticism and self-doubt. I am lying on the floor of a living room flat, eyes closed, with two speakers on either side of my head, music blaring, listening to Robert Smith and the lads.

 "Play For Today"

To escape the loneliness and emptiness I feel inside. I know, I know, not the most productiveuse of my time. “I don’t really care.”

“Secrets”

I have them…personal secrets, mates' secrets, family secrets. God knows.

 

“In Your House”

Mark P.’s house/flat actually. He lets me sleep on his couch for five bucks a week in rent. Mate’s rates for this Kelston Boys’ High School student. Pretending, killing time, pretending.

 

“Three”

Well? I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know.

 

Side Two:

“The Final Sound”

Don’t let it be a scream. The sound blasting out of the speaker by my right ear seems…different…behind the sound a final sound…in the beginning, the middle, and the end…always....

“A Forest”

Where is that girl? I am lost in a forest of melancholy. 

 

“M”

M. Mmmm. Mmmmmmmm. So good. Fading away in the song.

  

“At Night”

I open my eyes. Tense and relax the body as I reposition myself on the carpet. The sun that had hung in an Auckland sky is slowly dipping below the horizon, tracking a time and space shared with you, Robert Smith, Matthieu Hartley, Laurence Tolhurst, and Simon Gallup.

“Seventeen Seconds”

There’s a lot to experience in that time.

 

May 21, 2023, North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, Chula Vista, California, USA.

The Cure Tour: Shows of a Lost World

Robert Smith and the band are on stage.

 

“A Forest”

Wait, wait, wait…I recognize “the girl.” It’s you, Robert Smith, and the music of this album calling me “again and again and again and again.” Back then you were a broke teenager’s aural therapy…

 

And now? I am not lost or alone. Not this time. I am at a Cure concert. There’s mi esposa, Teresa de Jesus—and over there mi sobrino Brian A. All around I see a forest of friends and fans packed within the amphitheater. My people. Singing in harmony, together, your lyrics.

 

May 21, 2023: Driving home after the concert, past and present selves conversing.

 

Cured?

 

No. Work in progress. I can, however, see the forest and the trees.

 

Me too.

🥝🥝🥝🥝

Additional Links:

https://www.thecure.com

https://www.amazon.com/Seventeen-Seconds-Vinyl-CURE/dp/B000V7J81E/ref=tmm_vnl_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://aucklandcentral.co.nz/suburbs/avondale/

https://www.chulavistaca.gov

https://www.gohawaii.com

https://www.kbhs.school.nz

https://amphitheatrechulavista.com/index.php

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-cure/2023/north-island-credit-union-amphitheatre-chula-vista-ca-4bb93bca.html

Magnolia and Van Nuys

Magic mural on the wall, who’s the fairest one of all?

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?

No. 

Call me Dopey; I have no clue.

City of Angels.

Huh?

Indulge me in some context…

Ride a Metro, drive, bike, bus, e-scoot, skateboard, or even jaywalk around Los Angeles (and the surrounding cities) and you will come across a plethora of visual public expressions, from graffiti smeared across a 7-Eleven convenience store wall to commissioned works of art. The range reflects the diverse communities that inhabit this great metropolis.

At the corner of Magnolia and Van Nuys, adjacent to the ultimate German automotive eye candy—aka BMW of Sherman Oaks—I interviewed illustrator Danielle Gro'ak as she had just completed a commission to paint a City utility box.

How did this project come about?

As a Los Angeles native, I’ve always admired public art. When I moved to the Valley, I immediately noticed the painted utility boxes. I would take frequent walks in Sherman Oaks and admire all the designs. It’s amazing how much variation there is from block to block. I wanted to be part of this beautification initiative.

I sent a design to Let’s Paint Sherman Oaks. After some time, I heard back that my design was selected, and I was assigned a box. I was commissioned by the Sherman Oaks Chamber Foundation. Let’s Paint Sherman Oaks Website: https://www.letspaintshermanoaks.com/

What was your thesis/idea for submission?

My goal was to celebrate the critters of Sherman Oaks. I thought about plants, animals, and insects I’ve seen in the area and focused on each one’s personality. In the city, it can be easy to forget how much we share space with creatures. But all it takes is a bit of observation. Urban places bustle with wildlife.

During the process, what situations arose that surprised you or that you did not expect? 

My utility box is at the busy intersection of Magnolia and Van Nuys. I was surprised by how many strangers shared their enthusiasm and appreciation. People who drove past honked and yelled, “you’re so talented” or “thank you.” Some even parked to shake my hand and take a closer look. A bunch of students who came off the bus stopped to watch me paint. This one gentleman even asked if he could help with the primer. I would talk frequently with people who live and work in the neighborhood. I felt like I was a part of something much bigger. Art brings people together.

Name an artist who inspires you.

I'm inspired by multi-disciplinary artist Mokshini, a New Zealander who is based in Brooklyn. Her illustrations are fueled by the everyday eccentric personalities of New York. I admire that she is not removed from her subject matter. She lives and breathes her city. She even occasionally hides pieces in the streets for pedestrians to stumble upon and take home.

Is public art a genre and does it go by other names within the artistic community?

I’d say, yes, it is a category. I’ve also heard it called community art or commissioned public art. Other visual artists who enliven city spaces are urban sketchers, street artists, on-site illustrators, reportage illustrators, painters, muralists, sculptors, graffiti artists, performance artists, photographers, chalk artists . . . the list goes on and on.

What is your process when painting a utility box, i.e., how did you decide what image went on which side of the structure?

When painting outside, the natural environment becomes part of the process. There was no shade where I was so heat was a big factor in when I’d decide to work and for how long. I found a natural rhythm of working for an hour, taking a break in the car, and working for another hour. When artmaking, I thrive on moments of spontaneity. When creating my design, I worked out which animals would go on the smaller versus bigger sides. Anything beyond that, I wanted to decide on-site. My sister, Raewyn, suggested that the dog should face the pedestrians walking dogs. We thought the hummingbird would give some peace to the noisiest side of the street and the mountain lion would energize people hustling in their cars. We thought the deer could be a surprise for people who walk past the box. Its colors also complemented the auto dealership in front.

Any messages to those driving past and viewing your work?

There's beauty all around. Some of it is quiet, and some of it is loud. All it takes is a closer look.

Any advice to those artists wishing to pursue this artistic journey?

Before I started this project, I reached out to artists in Sherman Oaks who had done it before. They were happy to share their experience. Know you’re a part of a larger artistic community, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

What value do you think public or street art brings to a community?

Art deepens our sense of place and connection to one another. When I drive past a utility box, the bright colors zap me out of my everyday routine. It brings out the personality and textures already in the city. Art strengthens joy, community, and dare I say, fun.

What is your next public art project?

Right now, I am drawn to reportage illustration. Reportage illustration is the act of drawing, observing, and recording on location. Artists call the viewer to a specific place at a specific moment in time. I am in my final year of an MFA in Illustration and Visual Culture program at Washington University in St. Louis, and I am interested in mapping out stories in various corners of the city.

As Danielle says, “There’s beauty all around.” 

When you drive past the utility box on the corner of Magnolia and Van Nuys let the “personality and textures already in the city” speak to you:

 

Stop, says the red light,

 

Go, says the green.

 

Be careful, says the orange light

 

Winking in between.

Additional links:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Magnolia+Boulevard+%26+Van+Nuys,+Los+Angeles,+CA+91403/@34.1648982,-118.448825,3a,75y,270h,77.58t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scvstbMcwnBbfgN3AteNtIQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m7!3m6!1s0x80c297b72b12e601:0xad3a5b4222e5dd47!8m2!3d34.1648615!4d-118.4487249!10e5!16s%2Fg%2F11f39kg9_4?entry=ttu

https://movies.disney.com/snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs

https://www.metro.net

https://www.ridester.com/lime-scooter-price/

https://www.7-eleven.com/

https://www.bmwshermanoaks.com

http://www.daniellegroak.com

https://www.letspaintshermanoaks.com

https://www.mokshini.com

https://samfoxschool.wustl.edu/academics/college-of-art/mfa-in-illustration-and-visual-culture

Happy Birthday, Sis!

Today in New Zealand, it is Sunday, July 17.

It also happens to be my sister's birthday.

Join me in sending her some uplifting birthday vibes: Happy birthday, sis!

I first wrote the "Go-Cart Incident," in her honour, as a weekly assignment while attending SNHU.

It is now included in my book Bubble 'N' Squeak.

https://penmenreview.com/the-go-cart-incident/

Rufus Eats Cheese

It’s about time I came out of the kitchen pantry and declared who I am. Hmmm...caseophile, fromagophile, or turophile?

 

Huh?

 

Do you like your cheese?

 

I do.

 

Me too. Have so since I was a lad.

 

A little context…

 

At Oratia Primary School in West Auckland, my mum would always pack me a Marmite and grated cheese sandwich. It lasted a few seconds as I devoured it during lunch break. We also had a potbellied stove in our kitchen, and on cold winter evenings, she would toast up, inside it, grilled cheese and onion sandwiches with a quicksie iron. As soon as the sandwiches had slightly cooled, we inhaled them (after Mum refereed the inevitable fight my sister and I would have over who would be first).

 

With my own daughters, cheese was also a part of their diet—quesadillas, sandwiches, melting on rice—and their entertainment too. Many an afternoon was spent watching VHS copies (VH what?) of Wallace and Gromit. Fans of this British stop-motion comedy show will know that Wallace was particularly fond of his Wensleydale cheese.

 

Of late, I have been on a cheese-consuming kick, and decided to wade through the “whey” too many videos on YouTube concerning this dairy product. I don’t know if it was because of the fromage gods, Little Miss Muffet, or a Swiss-cheese-like hole in YouTube metrics, but one of the first sites I came across was:

 

Rufus Eats Cheese.

 

I had taken enough Latin at Kelston Boys’ High School to recognize the source of the name, and was impressed by the unpretentioness of the channel’s title. However, the drunk monkey musings of my mind did come up with…while…playing the harmonica; riding a unicycle; singing songs in Yiddish.

 

No.

 

As Rufus states in the ABOUT section of his channel, “I am partial to odd crumb of cheese now and again and thought it time I launched a YouTube channel, well, basically about me eating cheese. It's riveting!”

 

It is.

For me, part of that is due to the decorum I find so appealing in British people regardless of their position in society. I saw it in my nana (originally from Rotherham, UK; RIP), most famously in Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and I see it in Rufus.

 

It is also the earnestness (we agree, Mr. Wilde) with which Rufus eats cheese. His cheese board might as well be a round table and he, Merlin engaging in some mystic experience.

 

His process is so captivating: cut a slice of cheese, many of which are recommendations from his audience; smell the cheese, describe it, taste it, and comment on it.

 

For me, the “odd crumb of cheese now and again” is blue cheese, and the first video I watched was “Episode 7.” Thirty-five seconds in, I became a diehard fan when Rufus uttered the following words: “We are in the presence of aristocracy. This is the great Roquefort, a French cheese that we believe has been made since 1050.”

 

1050. Cool, but the word-nerd, the writer, the logophile in me was on cheese board with that comparison. Never, ever would I have thought of combining the words “aristocracy” and “cheese” in the same sentence.

 

It’s riveting.

 

It is.

 

For me, another experience that comes into play when I watch Rufus’s videos is I recognize when he is transported to “That Place.” We’ve all been there: for me it’s after the Air New Zealand plane has landed in Auckland and I immediately visit one of my favourite fish ’n’ chip shops. As soon as I take my first bite of fried fish, I close my eyes and surrender to the taste…“That Place.”

 

When Rufus closes his eyes with a mouthful of cheese, my imagination starts to engage: he is transported to the pastoral region where the cheese is made. He sees the cow/sheep/goat from whom the milk will be taken to make the dairy product—the grass it’s eating—the gentle breeze flowing—the position of the sun—the birds flying overhead—even the barking of the farm dog in an adjacent paddock. “That Place.”

 

There are also several charming episodes where Louisa, Rufus’s daughter, joins her father in the presentation.

 

It’s riveting.

 

It is.

 

After watching a video, I’m off to Erewhon Market, Studio City to purchase a cheese. My very first, post Episode 7, was an English Stilton.

 

Yes, Rufus: also aristocratic.

 

Oh, and for the record: turophile.

🥝🥝🥝🥝

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcLbNNJC0iDumi7rspgz3Cw

Additional links:

https://www.oratia.school.nz

https://marmite.co.nz

https://www.wallaceandgromit.com

https://www.kbhs.school.nz

https://www.royal.uk/her-majesty-the-queen

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/844/844-h/844-h.htm

https://www.airnewzealand.com/?ef_id=CjwKCAjwiJqWBhBdEiwAtESPaLh6VFOwZOCh1sCsaQOhGelAjaVoCRimUs47OIB0lAHzZS4DZQ1CvBoCUBUQAvD_BwE:G:s&gclid=CjwKCAjwiJqWBhBdEiwAtESPaLh6VFOwZOCh1sCsaQOhGelAjaVoCRimUs47OIB0lAHzZS4DZQ1CvBoCUBUQAvD_BwE

https://www.erewhonmarket.com

Good Night, Mr. Donut

I have a new illustrated children's book:

https://www.amazon.com/Good-Night-Donut-Stephen-Groak/dp/1977251730/ref=sr_1_1?crid=293OMYW8OTK3P&keywords=goodnight+mr+donut+stephen+groak&qid=1656606802&s=digital-text&sprefix=good+night+mr+donut+stephen+groak%2Cdigital-text%2C129&sr=1-1

What's it about?

Girl meets dog. Well, nervous girl meets curly-tailed dog.

Any context?

Every child deserves a best mate!

And you're inviting your blog readers who have purchased a copy of "Good Night, Mr. Donut" to submit a review that you'll publish here.

Yes, including 1-5 Kiwis. For their efforts, I will send them a free signed copy of one my other three books.

How do thet get in touch?

https://stephenjgroak.com/contact/

Reader Reviews:

Goodnight Mr. Donut is a sweet tale about the friendship between a young girl and her emotional support puppy. This book does not shy away from the grueling anxieties of a young person: moving to a new city, the first day of school, making new friends. The author treats Ellie’s fears with genuine care, humor, and rhyme that makes you want to follow along. Ellie is able to face life’s challenges knowing Mr. Donut is by her side. Ellie’s connection with Mr. Donut prompted my daughter to think of when our dog (Buddy) greets her when she comes home from school. The lovable Mr. Donut character will help your young person feel giggly, at ease, and loved right before going to sleep.

I rate this story five kiwis 🥝🥝🥝🥝🥝 Did I mention it takes place in New Zealand?

Paula A. Saint Louis, MO

Goodnight Mr. Donut Mi experiencia con este libro es que yo siento que es una buena herramienta para guiar a nuestros hijos en la vida diaria. Todos los niños se benefician de una mascota y en mi experiencia con mi hija se de los beneficios de este libro que puede traer a las personitas que son el motor de nuestra vida. Yo que tuve en la vida un poquito de dificultad con mi hija me siento identificada con este libro y como un perrito ayudo a mi hija y nuestra familia. Por eso lo recomiendo mucho.

🥝🥝🥝🥝🥝

M.C., Long Beach, CA.