The Magpie Diary: Apr. 13, 2025.

*Above picture taken at Passalacqua on Lake Como this past fall. I’m writing about magic in this diary installment, and there is no other way to describe this hotel. Magic.

Do you believe in magic? Not the kitschy kind, a ball disappearing into a hand, or cards showing up in strange places. I mean the unexplainable coincidences. Or maybe the word I’m looking for is fate, or maybe I’m talking about manifestation? I mean do you really believe in it? On a bone deep level? It’s always this way for me: I have to shut my eyes and make a leap; I imagine myself hopscotching over the carefully-laid pipes through which my logic, schooled by the circumspection born of 40 years on this earth, flow. Just jump right over it. And then I can get there. When I find my thoughts drifting down into the ductwork, I lose sight of the possibility of magic completely.

It’s easiest for me to accept “magic” when I’m looking at the world and noticing patterns that seem to draw me to the heart of things, or the things of the heart, I should say: I see my grandparents in the 8101 street address in my neighborhood; I see Tilly in the cardinals in my yard. This is, I know, because I have enormous faith in love: the heart will always find itself out in the world; love is always looking for us.

I find it more challenging in situations of business, and life’s strange twists and turns. But a friend of mine was talking about how she started her business, and the immense stress and worry this caused her at first, and then, no sooner had she made the decision to form the LLC, three clients came to her out of the clear, wide blue. She’d not advertised her services in any way. She’d not even mentioned it to anyone but her husband. She was known in the field, but she’d never done any consulting. By what forces had they come to her, and in such a timely fashion, one after another?

There is a realist in me who thinks: that happened by no accident. It was years and years of effort on my friend’s part — not magic. Like, you don’t just wake up and become an expert in non-profit fundraising, and have people asking you for your services. No; you’ve spent decades networking, shuttling between jobs, getting to know the space, earning trust and respect. (Most “overnight success” stories are ten years in the making.)

Still. So unusual to have that happen so soon after she’d put the thought out into the world. I am willing to see it as magic. I am thinking now of a line from Dean Young’s poem, “Belief in Magic”:

“I believe reality is approximately 65% if.”

Reality is, in other words, mainly possibility. Mainly “could bes” and “we can’t be sure buts” and “I wonder ifs…” I think I’ll plant myself there, on the 65% side of “hmm, maybe.” Let myself be surprised –enchanted — by life’s unfolding.

Shopping Break.

I bought two books this week: this gorgeous version of one of my favorite texts (couldn’t not) and this Amy Tan book, which a Magpie reader charmingly messaged me about: “I saw it in a bookstore and immediately thought of you. The lit x birding crossover brand is strong hahah.” (Thank you, V!)

I am also super excited to try this cold brew / cold espresso / nitro coffee machine en route to me now. I have wanted to make iced espresso drinks at home forever, and this new brand called Cumulus reached out and offered to send me one of their makers to try. I will report back with thoughts but I am so excited for iced latte afternoons!