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A Touch of Magic

When I talk to people about pigeon racing it's not long before they ask the inevitable question: How do they find their way home? I always explain about using the sun and the earth's magnetic fields, but we don't really know for sure so I also add "and a touch of magic." Young children and old people (like me) know all about magic. It is out there...if you want to experience it. Now I know you're thinking that I'm in my second childhood. If I am then I welcome it; my first childhood was very good. Perhaps I should tell you a true story which might explain why I believe in magic.

When I was principal of a school at the north end of Vancouver Island, we built a barn and needed some animals to live in it. We acquired chickens, rabbits, pigeons (of course!) and two goats. Then we heard about the unicorn! I have always loved "The Unicorn" song by the Irish Rovers and I became very excited. It was in a remote area down Quatsino Sound. Where else would you find a unicorn but in a remote area? I asked a friend who had a boat if he was interested in going to investigate. He was adventurous and readily agreed to help.

The area was truly remote and we had to anchor the boat in a shallow bay and wade ashore. We found a log house and two women living there with their elderly mother. They had come to the area after World War Two when their late father had acquired land and built a homestead. They had been isolated with very little contact with the outside world. Their schooling had been done at home. They were very knowledgeable about the wildlife around them and both were very good artists.

We approached the subject of the unicorn very cautiously and we were very surprised when they agreed that we could take it for the school. My friend wondered how we were going to get it to the boat. This problem was solved when one of the women hoisted the animal on to her shoulders and began to wade out to the boat. The unicorn was secured in the boat and we headed up the Sound back to the school.

We put the mythical creature in the back of my friend's truck and drove up the road past the local garage to the school. Later the owner of the garage asked us about unicorns as he thought he had seen one in the back of a truck. We didn't enlighten him at that time. Our new acquisition was housed in the barn and the children had the great pleasure of looking after a unicorn.

I hope this explains why I believe in things magical.

At this point I should add that it doesn't really matter that the unicorn was a white goat that had been dehorned and one of the horns had regrown in the middle of its forehead. There are those of us who will always remember "The Unicorn." Perhaps in some other remote area there is another unicorn to be found by someone who believes in magic.

The lyrics to "The Unicorn" by the Irish Rovers.

Email me at laurholb@telus.net.