Reply #4: I remember well

[Tobin S.]

I have oneighty's books here and they are precious to me. I consider them among the most important things I own. He wrote with heart and empathy, and although he may not have been a professional writer, I've learned more from him about story telling than anyone I've ever read. And now a little story of my own in honor of oneighty.

Ed was his name. He used to post little stories in the lounge like the one in the OP. I had been reading them and became very impressed. I wrote a private message to him telling him so. I had just started posting little stories of my own in the lounge. Ed responded to my private message and we started talking about writing. He told me that he had self published a couple of works, one a novella and the other a larger book containing many of his short stories. I told him that I would very much like to read them and asked him if I could buy a copy of each from him. He said he would give me a copy of the novella, called Kazuko, that I could keep for free. The larger book, called Voyages of the Vicky Mary, was not for sale and he told me that it was expensive to publish. But he sent me a copy to read and then return to him on my promise. It was a very generous and trusting gesture, especially seeing as how I'd never met Ed in person and we lived several hundred miles apart. I became Ed's biggest fan. Well, Jitterbug Perfume might have something to say about that, but I was at least number two on the list.

I read Ed's books and developed a big ol' man crush on him in the process. I loved the guy. Those stories were amazing, and to top it off they were true! I hated to let go of the Voyages book, but there was no way I could go back on my promise to Ed. I did offer him money for it in an attempt to keep it, but he said he had to have it back. I sent it back along with a token of my appreciation. Ed had done something very important for me aside from letting me look at those wonderful books. He kindled what will probably be for me a life long interest in writing and I started writing more stories after I read his stuff. I now have enough little stories of my own to make a book about the size of his Voyages.

A little time went by and we had developed the writing forum here at DU and Ed and I would talk there sometimes. I was always trying to get him to attempt to commercially publish his books, and I think to the point that it even irritated him a little, but he had no interest in any money his books might generate. He told me that he wrote those books for his friends and family, and especially for his grandchildren whom he feared he would not see grow into adulthood. I did not understand that fear and it was very imperceptive of me. Ed was about 70 and I thought he would probably have many years left in him. Little did I know.

One day on a different message board, hosted by auntAgonist, that no longer exists, aA told me that Ed had passed away. It turned out that he had emphysema or some lung disease and had been struggling with it for a while, even when he and I first started talking. I was shocked because I didn't see it coming and it made me very sad. I decided to write to Ed's wife because I still had their address from when I had corresponded with Ed. I gave her my condolences and told her how much Ed meant to me. I was out on the road doing trucking stuff at the time and it would be a while before I got home, but when I did I had a wonderful unexpected gift waiting for me: The Voyages of the Vicky Mary.