I have a friend named Brent who is blind. He is also a magician. He calls himself The Great Blindini.
Here are some snippets from a recent newspaper article about him:
Magicians often don a blindfold at some point during their shows. For Brent Gifford, aka “The Great Blindini,” a blindfold would be redundant. Sightless since he was 11, Gifford has been amazing and entertaining folks with his comedy magic shows across the nation for more than 40 years.
His sense of humor is immediately apparent in one of his favorite sayings: “Now you see it, now I don’t.”
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Gifford performs at libraries, schools, corporate parties, children’s parties, night clubs and pretty much anywhere he’s asked. He has performed at a monastery in New Mexico and at a nudist retreat.
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Gifford has spent most of his life pushing through fear to live a life full of adventure and accomplishment.
“Everything you do comes down to love or fear,” he said. “I do things because I’m a teacher. I’m trying to forge the way for other people. I try to be an example to other people. That’s what keeps me from giving up and staying home all day.
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While attending a school basketball game in his home town in Maine at age 11, Gifford’s vision loss hit suddenly. He stood to cheer when a friend scored for the first time and instantly became completely blind.
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“I was really shy before I lost my sight,” he said. “I got over that somewhere along the line.”
At the young age of 14, the future Great Blindini made it his quest to live and perform in all 50 states. He has succeeded in living and working in 49 so far, with just Hawaii needed to complete his goal.
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Here are a URL and/or link to the article:
http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20120716/LIFESTYLE/307160001?fb_ref=artsharetop&fb_source=other_multiline
WAY TO GO, my friend!
Russ
Russ Towne's A Grateful Man 
He sounds amazing! What an inspiration.
Indeed he is. Funny too!
Russ
What a tremendous person to know!! Thanks for sharing his story Russ!
Hi, Mimi! Indeed he is. I’m glad you liked the post.
Russ
Wow, thank you for sharing!!
It was my pleasure, Shantelle! Thank you for your comment!
Russ
HOW AWESOME!!!! I love it!!!
Yes, Brent is an amazing man. Thank you for your feedback!
Russ
Tweeted it! Facebooked it! Loved it!! Thanks for sharing this story. 🙂
I’m glad that you loved it, Diana. I love how you kept reading my blog and liking my posts even when I was distracted for most of the last 10 days and wasn’t reciprocating! I noticed, and appreciate that a lot, and plan to reciprocate in a big way within the next 24 hours or so. Thank you! I appreciate your patience, loyalty, and friendship!
Russ
ahh Russ it’s not a tit for tat thing in my books. I just really enjoy your posts – they fill me up. 🙂
Thank you, Diana. I really enjoy yours as well. I know that it isn’t a tit for tat thing with you–which is precisely why I want to give your log all the support I can. You are real and create real online friendships. You’re not just trying to pump your blogging numbers. The difference is obvious and appreciated. Thank you!
Russ
kind words. Thank you.
What a tremendous inspiration! Thank you so much for sharing his story, Russ, it sounds like you are quite lucky to know someone with such determination and heart 🙂
Indeed I am! I’ve been blessed with wonderful friends–including some online friends whom I’ve never met. You are one of them, Andrea.
Russ
Thank you for that Russ! I consider it a great compliment – I appreciate your posts, comments, and friendship as well! 🙂
Inspirational, Russ. Thanks.!
It was truly my pleasure, Elyse! Thank you for your kind comliment!
Russ
Thank you for your feedback, Elyse!
Russ
Thank you for sharing about your very inspirational friend! I love it. 🙂
Thank you to another of my very inspirational friends, Gina!
Russ
What a great post!
I am glad you stopped by so I had a map to wander over to your part of the world!
Thank you for sharing an inspiration….and a smile….
Take Care…
)0(
ladybluerose
I’m glad that you did, and that you something worthwhile during your visit.
Russ
Hi Russ, I had no idea you had this blog and I had no idea you posted this about Brent! Yes, he is an amazing guy, isn’t he? Thanks for posting about him!
He is indeed, my friend. Please say “hi” to him for me.
Russ