In Praise of Friends -- Margaret Ruth Dean
What with travels and Mythcon, I didn't post in this "series" last weekend (and am late in getting this one up). But not because I am slacking off on it. It's just that it was hard to write on the road. Anyway.... onward --
I met Margaret at my first Mythcon. She struck me as bright, engaging and even bubbly. Her ready smile and sparkling eyes caught my attention. We easily fell into conversation -- Mythcon is advantageous for that since it self-selects for at least some shared interests. Behind that bubbly nature, there was a bright, sharp mind that liked looking at stories.
After that Mythcon, I returned to Texas and she returned to the east coast where she lived. But we promptly launched into a correspondence, a fairly regular one. Yes, back in the dark ages without email and social networking, back when snail mail was the way to do it.
We had talked about writing at Mythcon and continued to do so in letters. She became one of the earliest readers of the beginnings of The Ring of Adonel, and I always appreciated her feedback on the start.
Life came along and we sort of slid out of contact. In that time, she married and began a family and I moved to Hollywood pursuing ambitions. But the shared interest remained, and there her name was in the directory of Mythopoeic Scoiety members. Still, I have to admit that it was online social networking that revived the sleeping friendship.
Earlier this month, she attended Mythcon again after a long gap. Seeing her again face to face was great. I privately mused on how in some ways, the passage of years had left their stamp on her, but how also the Essential Margaret remained. Her smile and bright eyes were still there, as was her tendency to bounce with enthusiasm for some idea or point of discussion. I enjoyed reconnecting more directly -- and wish I'd actually said that more strongly to her in Dallas. But I'm saying it now: She was a joy to know "back then" and she still is.
I met Margaret at my first Mythcon. She struck me as bright, engaging and even bubbly. Her ready smile and sparkling eyes caught my attention. We easily fell into conversation -- Mythcon is advantageous for that since it self-selects for at least some shared interests. Behind that bubbly nature, there was a bright, sharp mind that liked looking at stories.
After that Mythcon, I returned to Texas and she returned to the east coast where she lived. But we promptly launched into a correspondence, a fairly regular one. Yes, back in the dark ages without email and social networking, back when snail mail was the way to do it.
We had talked about writing at Mythcon and continued to do so in letters. She became one of the earliest readers of the beginnings of The Ring of Adonel, and I always appreciated her feedback on the start.
Life came along and we sort of slid out of contact. In that time, she married and began a family and I moved to Hollywood pursuing ambitions. But the shared interest remained, and there her name was in the directory of Mythopoeic Scoiety members. Still, I have to admit that it was online social networking that revived the sleeping friendship.
Earlier this month, she attended Mythcon again after a long gap. Seeing her again face to face was great. I privately mused on how in some ways, the passage of years had left their stamp on her, but how also the Essential Margaret remained. Her smile and bright eyes were still there, as was her tendency to bounce with enthusiasm for some idea or point of discussion. I enjoyed reconnecting more directly -- and wish I'd actually said that more strongly to her in Dallas. But I'm saying it now: She was a joy to know "back then" and she still is.