My friend Donald Williams was out in the Los Angeles area in order to speak at a seminar sponsored by the Southern California C.S. Lewis Society. The seminar was most of the day on Saturday, and unfortunately I had a conflicting committment across town. So I didn’t get to go hear Don talk about CSL and mediavalism – something that would have been right up my alley.
Don Williams
However, I did get to see Don on Sunday afternoon/evening. Edie Dougherty had helped organize the seminar, and her brother Don Brown and his wife hosted a potluck BBQ at their house for Don. A small company gathered, and I happily made the drive out to Glendora for the event.
Edie Dougherty
Edie relaxing after we’d finished dining.
(Okay side matter: from Hollywood, Glendora is actually inland, and yet to me, living in Hollywood, it’s outward. It’s also a slightly longer drive than I calculate. I always underestimate the amount of time it takes to drive there. But I arrived, and that’s what matters.)
It was a very pleasant occasion for conversation. Diana Glyer managed to get there for a time (even though it was Father’s Day), so it was nice to see her as well.
Diana Glyer
She had only just gotten back from one trip, so it was an achievement to get out and socialize at all. I was happy to see her because she said she won’t be attending Mythcon this summer. She said she’s been traveling so much she just needed some “home time” – which makes excellent sense.
And then there was Lynn.
Lynn Maudlin
I haven’t had a chance to talk with Lynn since Loscon last November. I always enjoy seeing her. I’m always nagging her about getting her music onto CD. She had done an album on cassette way back when and I would love a copy in a more durable form. But she’s in the same boat as many other creative people: processing the masters for burning the CDs would cost money she doesn’t have right now. I do hope she can find a way, since I love her music.
I didn’t get a photo of Edie’s brother Don and his wife. I’m out of practice as a shutterbug. But they were wonderful hosts, and fun to talk with. “Edie’s Don” has a Segway, which he showed off to me. I’ve been fascinated by the contraptions ever since they were released, so the opportunity to check it out close up was irresistable. It’s a strange sensation standing up on it, because it does compensate and respond to your leaning very sensitively. And the intuitive response to standing on it with this pole in front of you is to lean back a bit … so it backs up. It seems to me that the engineering is designed to keep the foot platform directly below your center of weight. Turning is a very easy twist on the left handle, and it rotates very tightly, within the circumference of its “footprint”. So even if you were in the midst of a lot of people, turning around would not require additional space beyond what you already occupied. I really liked it. But even he said “It’s an expensive toy.” If one could park it somewhere safely, or lock it up in a locker, it’d be cool to have one. I’d scoot over to Hollywood & Highland or the Cinerama Dome, instead of driving, for instance. But I really appreciated Don’s demonstrating it and letting me try it.
Conversation ranged generally over several topics, which was a pleasure. I also had a “sounding board” chat with Don Williams about the panel we’ll be doing at Mythcon, about poetry in fantasy literature. Of course, we also talked about poetry in general, and the poets that influenced each of us. For me, that would mostly be Shakespeare and Keats.
I kept lingering over conversation, even after Diana left (to get back to hubby Mike and daughter Sierra). But eventually I did get back on the road, reaching home around 10:30. All in all a lovely day in excellent company.
