I met Scott Morris as a fluke. I was auditioning for the annual
magic show to be held by the IMPS -- an SAM junior league. I was about 15, and Scott was a
few years older than I. He'd been traveling the world performing as a clown in a variety
of circuses, but he showed up for this meeting to see what was going on with us young'uns.
Scott and I hit it off real fast. By his own admission, Scott
operates on a different plane (he works for the airlines) than most of us, but he and I
have developed our own unique language and shared memories which makes our distant
relationship fun and familiar, no matter how much time or space passes between our
meetings.
Scott taught me how to juggle and eat fire, and also introduced me
to some wild people including Jeff Krozier and The Moon Rock Circus, a bizarre rock
magician from Australia who later hung himself. Scott was the kind of guy I would not hear
from for months, and then suddenly he would show up at my door and kidnap me. I spent some
long nights with him roaming Max's Kansas City, CBCGs, and Chinatown.
Scott has trunks and trunks of magic from all over the world, and
he has some wonderful stories about Al Flosso, too. You see, Scott worked for Al for a
number of years in that little dusty store that used to be on 34th Street and 8th Avenue.
He has traveled with the World Festival of Magic and Occult around the world, and worked
with such masters as Richiardi.
Over the years, Scott and I have shared some interesting magical
moments including a surprise visit to Florida to go swimming with dolphins. He simply
called me at work one day and told me to meet him at the airport later that evening if I
wanted to go swimming with dolphins the next day. Who was I to say, "No?" A day
with Scott is always an interesting and entertaining adventure.
Swimming with dolphins has got to be one of the most exciting and
magical experiences of my life. It's right up there with getting married and watching the
birth of my two children. Dolphins are fascinating creatures, and I think they know more
than we could ever imagine . . . and in that respect, dolphins and Scott have a lot in
common.
