Nurse, Football Player, or Magician

Parker has always contended that he wants to be a football player when he grows up.  I have made sure he understands that not many people are able to play professional football so a backup plan may be in order.  That must have sunk in because when I recently asked him want he wants to be when he stuck to his guns and said football player, but he also clued me on his desire to be a nurse. 

I am sure there are plenty of kids out there that want to be a nurse.
I am sure there are plenty of kids out there that want to be a football player.
I'm not so sure there are many like Parker that want to be one or the other.

Everything regarding Parker's career aspirations changed this past Saturday morning in the cafeteria of the elementary school near my office.  That's where he met Magical Dan. 

Who is Magical Dan you might ask...

Magical Dan is a magician/balloon artist that came to entertain the crowd at the annual Kiwanis Pancake Day breakfast that Parker was helping me work.  While I was working my fingers to the bone making my locally renowned sausage gravy back in the kitchen, Parker was joined at the hip with his new idol.  Taking in anything and everything that Dan was doing.  I knew he was enjoying himself, which was really nice to see, but I didn't know quite the extent of his enjoyment until we were on our way home after our shift and he proclaimed that he wants to be a magician when he grows up.

Parker spent much of Saturday afternoon on Grandma Monica's iPad looking for magic tricks that he could perfect. He's still a little rough around the edges with his magic, but he's got time to perfect his tricks...at least a year.  I am hoping we can reunite Magical Dan with Magical Parker at next year's Pancake Day.  Imagine the crowds that combination would draw in.