The Two-Party System

Saturday, August 2, 1997

Since the first Saturday of the month is Vanguard, it was a two-party weekend. This was the first time I had been to Laurie Kipp's house. She lives in the north end of Seattle, in a tiny house with a very nice backyard and patio. Thus, she can host Vanguard only in the summer, and even then we keep our fingers crossed for no rain. (Not that I am complaining; I live in a small apartment and can't host at all. Vanguard necessitates smoking and non-smoking areas, and an apartment without a balcony or patio won't do.)

I really liked the effect of a candlelight Vanguard. There were lilies and herbs growing beside the steps we were sitting on, those rubrum lilies that no perfume can reproduce.

The steps, about six or eight feet wide, faced the patio and house and sloped up a small rise to a shed which used to be a hay shed. They had the effect of amphitheater seating, which was suitable for Andy and crew to sit and spiel on. Later, when Luke was on the steps, he was silhouetted by the candles. All that could be seen was the outline of his cap and glasses, and the burning cigarette [!] in front of him. John D. Berry said he resembled Hunter Thompson, others were reminded of Deep Throat.

I actually got some compliments on my appearance tonight, which was a trifle startling. Not that I ever think I look bad, but the only thing I had done differently was to wear a white blouse that has some blue embroidery on the front. Between one person telling me I looked "great" and another stroking my hair and telling me how soft and nice it felt after putting a hand on my shoulder, it was evidently my night to shine!

Andy Hooper was distributing the first issue of his latest fanzine, called The Jezail. I am still mourning the passing of Apparatchik, since I always enjoyed the bowling nights when we would fold, stuff and stamp the latest issue between frames, then all sit down and read it together. This new one is Andy alone, but that's how APAK started as well. We shall see.

Late in the evening, there was sort of a general circle formed on the patio. A young woman I don't know, a friend of Laurie's, I think, was quizzing Craig in a rather pressing way. What is he reading now, what was the last book he read, what did he think of it. These questions were not being asked in an interested voice, more in the voice of someone with an axe to grind.

So I piped up and said, "And remember, sir, you are under oath!"

General Laughter, then she turned her sights on me. What was the last book I read?

Luckily, I had just finished Slow River that afternoon. What did I think of it? I thought it was great! Ooh, she got excited. Did I know that Ni-co-la was living in Seattle now? I allowed as how I did know that, then asked if she had known that Nicola had been teaching at Clarion West and had read from the book on Tuesday. She expressed great disappointment that she had missed this.

A strange encounter! I refrained from actually putting her down or correcting the pronounciation. Craig had no problem holding his own in the conversation and, indeed, went on and on about the Robert Silverberg kick he's been on.

I was home at midnight, but didn't go to sleep for quite a while after. Perhaps because of the too many cans of Diet Coke I drank at the party? During the week I limit my self to two caffeinated drinks per day. I think I had about eight today!