MICHAEL AND CHRISTY SITTING AT A PIANO BAR - THE NATURE OF MAGIC BLOGFEST ... AMBER'S RETURN.

Hello everyone. Yesterday was quite the exciting day for me. I spent most of the day at the MAGIC KINGDOM in Disney World. Although that was wonderful, it wasn't the highlight of my day. Last night at approximately 8:00 pm I met Christy from erica and chrisy's blog in front of Jellyrolls piano bar on the Disney Boardwalk.

Of course, she knew me from my pic, but I didn't know what she looked like until Erica came to the rescue and sent me a pic of her and her husband, Nathan.

I saw them both walking toward me and I knew her instantly and waved. I felt like I was meeting a dear friend. We have chatted on the blog and through emails for months, and know we wetre meeting face to face. How cool is that!

We hugged and Christy introduced me to her hubby. Such a sweet guy. He was prepared for the constant writing chatter. While we talked endlessly, he bopped to the dueling piano music. A great time was had by all.

By Midnight we were both hoarse and stepped outside into the cool breezes skipping across the lake. Another hug and a bit more talk and I was on my way back to my hotel. This was such a magical evening.

To tired to shoot Erica an email last night(she introduced me to Christy), the first thing I found this morning in my inbox was from Erica and I quote, "So??" Why isn't anyone telling me if you guys met or not? :)" The first thing I did was write Erica an email. LOL.

Bloggers, if you ever get the chance to meet, do it! You will forge and even stronger friendship when you can place a face and a voice with you blogger buddy.

Since I am all magical and in Disney World, how appropriate for me to enter into yet another blogfest. This one hosted by Tessa and Laura. "The Nature of Magic Blogfest." Be sure to hop over to their blogs for the other entries. Mine is from an excerpt from my first novel, Amber and the Whispering Willows.

Nine years later, on the outskirts of Helmsdale, a short distance away from NYC, a young girl  lay in a meadow edged by a willow tree grove. 

Her home, a little white house with evergreen shutters, was located not too far away from Helmsdale’s finest mansions.

Gazing at her beloved willows, a wave of tranquility washed over her. The graceful curves of the cascading yellow-green tendrils stroked the earth. The arch that formed between them beckoned her.

Spring flowers soaked up the sun as she stepped toward the willow trees. 

Streamer-like leaves tickled her as she passed through the entrance. The filtered sun created dancing shadows across the path that lead deeper into the Willows. Amber beamed. 

She strolled toward her usual spot and arrived just steps away from a quiet pond; her favorite place on earth. She picked a purple coneflower, one of thousands of wildflowers that blanketed the pond’s edge. Sitting down upon a flat rock, she noticed the subtle shades of lavender and purple surrounding the dark iridescent orangey-red center of the cone. 

The glistening pond looked just like emerald green glass. She gazed into the pond’s depths as several monarch butterflies landed on her shoulder. How beautiful! Even in the reflection she couldn’t help but notice the bright orange and black colors printed on their wings. 

Another joined their little group; its electric blue markings flashed brightly with each flutter of its wings. It inched its way closer to her before flying away. She sensed it wanted something, but couldn’t understand what it might be.     

The hummingbirds arrived a moment later, circled and landed on her outstretched arm. They twittered with delight as she spoke to them. This young girl had a special gift; she could communicate with the creatures of the Willows. 

She waited for her favorite to arrive.  

As if by magic, a large, shiny, pitch-black rabbit with oversized ears appeared from the patch of wildflowers just to the left of the rock. This was no ordinary rabbit, not only because of his unusual size and color, but because of his eyes of black opalescence.     

“Hi, Jasper!”  

He hopped next to her. She reached down and played with his silky fur between her fingers. All her frustrations melted away as she told him her inner most feelings. 

With each glimmer of his eyes, she knew he understood. 

The sun sank low in the western sky. Sadly, she waved goodbye to her friends.