Page 59 - THE ENDLESS WAVE | Skateboarding, Death & Spirituality

THE ENDLESS WAVE | PART ONE
Balance.” For a few years, I taught students balancing skills through skate- boarding (and stilts!) along with magic tricks.
When I saw Bill’s name on the transfer board, I was shocked and deeply sad- dened. I am not sure exactly how he died, but I sense that behind Bill’s gre- garious personality, some deeper issues finally caught up with him. Entertainers give so much of themselves that sometimes they get lost in the mix. What pains me the most is that Bill sacrificed so much to become a mag- ician. Here’s what I wrote in the article, “I’ve sacrificed a lot to be a magician. I don’t eat in fancy restaurants, and I traded in my car. The biggest payoff is not financial, it is what I do for people.”
Further on in the piece, Bill says, “I am truly honoured and grateful to have this ability to make someone smile or forget their problems for just a brief moment.” Reading the feature six years later fostered so many different memories and emotions. Ironically enough, there’s a guy I work with who actually went to high school with Bill. They played on the same sports teams together. Like me, he is deeply saddened by Bill’s passing.
The outpouring of grief and sadness expressed on the virtual guestbook on our website is immense. There are literally dozens of people writing their con- dolences. Here are a few that are of particular note:
Bill taught me never to accept the ordinary. Never stop taking risks in the pursuit of what you love. I will forever be grateful to him.
What a huge personality and that smile...it could melt ice. You couldn’t help but be inspired by Bill’s personality and gift of magic. The world has lost a genuinely kind soul.
He brought so much happiness to so many people with his magic, including our children. His passion for the arts, whether it was his magic, photography or play- ing the guitar, was both inspirational & admirable. There were no half-measures with Bill, he was all in. His presence and smile lit up every room he entered, leav- ing us all feeling loved and cared for.
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