So the World May Hear Gala Benefit

It was a thrill to bring magic and smiles to the families at the Starkey Hearing Foundation’s hearing aid distribution event this summer. Around 150 children received hearing aids at the Starkey Event.

I love to see the smiles on the children’s faces as they react to the comedy and magic.  It is all very visual so they like it, but it was fun to see some of the kids as they came out with a new hearing aid and how they commented on what they were able to hear.  That’s real magic!

This is a great organization with wonderful work giving out hearing aids in countries all over the world.

To learn more ot contribute to this great organization check their website:

sotheworldmayhear.org

I’d like to thank the nice folks at the Starkey Foundation for inviting me to the spend the day doing magic with the families at the distribution, it was a joy.

I’m also grateful that the team at the Foundation saw my magic and enjoyed it and invited me to return two nights later to do strolling magic and comedy at their special event for the visiting audiologists.  I met some very sweet people from all over the US who came into town for the big Sunday benefit gala.  That night Elton John, Billy Chrystal and many others rocked the Exel Center and raised over $4.6 Million.

The Starkey Foundation does such a great work to help kids all over the world hear.

Norm With Sheila Raye Charles

I recently had the pleasure to perform again with Sheila Raye Charles.  Sheila is a very gifted and dynamic singer. The audience was thrilled by her original music as well as the songs of her father Ray Charles.  Sheila also shared her difficult yet awesome life story.

This was the second time I got to enjoy her wonderful music and be her opening act with my comedy magic. We are looking forward to more events like this.

Humor is the Magic in Relationships

My sweet wife and I just celebrated our 27^th Anniversary and I was reflecting on how humor is such a vital part of any relationship.

Researchers have proven the value of humor in the workplace. It is an important asset to successful teambuilding and customer service.   Anyone who is married more than 7 months probably realizes the helpful effects of humor in their relationship.

In the dating stage of the relationship almost everyone says that they adored their companion’s sense of humor. But after being married I discovered how vital that humor is to a healthy balanced relationship. We need humor to help us over the rough spots in life. If we can laugh at our slipups, mistakes, blunders and just plain bad choices, we are on the path to forgiveness and understanding.

I’m known for being a funny guy, but my wife has the best sense of humor.  Who else could so humorously bring me down to size?  Recently, I stepped out in my new swim suit, struck a Charles Atlas pose and said, “ah, a Greek god!”  I was quickly out-quipped by her comment, “More like a geek god.”

My sweetheart works in a bank. Once she brought a small gag gift, hand held device to her office that emits a small spray of sparks. It is like a joy buzzer that shoots sparks off a wind up flywheel.  This was the day the computer guy came to do check ups.  Before he came she surprised each of her co-workers with this same device.  Finally the computer guy arrives and after he tools around a bit she says, “Well there is one other thing about this computer, whenever I touch this button…” She lightly touches the number 7 on her computer keyboard and at the same time lets the sparks fly. The guy about does a double back flip, “shut it down – where’s the power supply!!!…” Everyone else who had been tricked by this device earlier got to enjoy seeing the computer expert encounter a very unique problem.  When he realized he had been tricked, he was the best sport of all and he laughed like crazy.  He probably still tells his friends about that crazy woman at the bank.

We all need a bit of humor to spark up our day.   Humor helps us realize we are simply human. We have troubles and challenges but laughter brings joy to our lives. It mixes things up and brightens our day. Go spread some humor.