In Praise of Friends -- John Morgan Neal
A fistful of the regulars on Chuck Dixon's message board have become a close circle of friends for me. We came together because we all liked Chuck's work, of course. But over time, between the wide ranging conversations that Chuck enjoys encouraging and the frequent IM chats between some of us, a close "posse" develped. And we've been friends for over a decade now.
One member of the posse has always been John Morgan Neal. In the beginning, when we had a board format that allowed posters to alter their screen name with every post, John would amuse the readers by signing in as "Bat-Neal" (a moniker he still uses, and is often identified as). But depending on the conversation, he might also be "Trek Neal" or "Hulk Neal" or "Lantern Neal." The screen names were only the tip of the iceberg of his sense of humor.
Dedicatedly (perhaps even rabidly) Texan, John loves to play against expectations. Just when you thought the conversation was going reasonably, he'll toss in a non-sequitur in deadpan fashion, and catch you off your guard.
But for all of his playing the Jester, John has a patience and loyalty that is admirable. Even when he is going through difficulties, he tries to downplay them, because he doesn't want to seem to be whining "Poor me!" all the time. And although he is quick to help others when he can, seeking aid himself is the last thing he thinks of.
He has a wacky sense of humor, fueled by nostalgia for old TV shows (especially old scienc e fiction shows) and old movies. And then, of course, there is his devotion to the original Star Trek series. (When I really wish to tease him, I call him a "Trekkie" - a title he disavows, favoring "Trekker" instead.)
He's a talented storyteller, but he underrates his own skills. He adds a touch of Texas sauce to the social mix, after grounding discussions that have gotten a bit too high-flying.
In the summer of 2010, as part of my epic road trip, I stopped to visit John. We had a fun lunch and afternoon together before I hit the road again. When we were parting, I sanpped this picture of him --
He's trying to look very stern here, but don't believe it. He's a sweetheart. In fact, he's my bright, shiny Texas Star.
One member of the posse has always been John Morgan Neal. In the beginning, when we had a board format that allowed posters to alter their screen name with every post, John would amuse the readers by signing in as "Bat-Neal" (a moniker he still uses, and is often identified as). But depending on the conversation, he might also be "Trek Neal" or "Hulk Neal" or "Lantern Neal." The screen names were only the tip of the iceberg of his sense of humor.
Dedicatedly (perhaps even rabidly) Texan, John loves to play against expectations. Just when you thought the conversation was going reasonably, he'll toss in a non-sequitur in deadpan fashion, and catch you off your guard.
But for all of his playing the Jester, John has a patience and loyalty that is admirable. Even when he is going through difficulties, he tries to downplay them, because he doesn't want to seem to be whining "Poor me!" all the time. And although he is quick to help others when he can, seeking aid himself is the last thing he thinks of.
He has a wacky sense of humor, fueled by nostalgia for old TV shows (especially old scienc e fiction shows) and old movies. And then, of course, there is his devotion to the original Star Trek series. (When I really wish to tease him, I call him a "Trekkie" - a title he disavows, favoring "Trekker" instead.)
He's a talented storyteller, but he underrates his own skills. He adds a touch of Texas sauce to the social mix, after grounding discussions that have gotten a bit too high-flying.
In the summer of 2010, as part of my epic road trip, I stopped to visit John. We had a fun lunch and afternoon together before I hit the road again. When we were parting, I sanpped this picture of him --
He's trying to look very stern here, but don't believe it. He's a sweetheart. In fact, he's my bright, shiny Texas Star.