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I am already kindly disposed towards you. My friendship it is not in my power to give: this is a gift which no man can make, it is not in our own power: a sound and healthy friendship is the growth of time and circumstance, it will spring up and thrive like a wildflower when these favour, and when they do not, it is in vain to look for it. |
Wednesday, August 20, 1997
Today my friend Luke McGuff's journal was added to Open Pages.
I first met Luke the day after he was married.
Jane Hawkins was turning forty years old, and decided to celebrate this by having a small science fiction convention, of the type she most enjoyed, with all her friends (who could be there) attending. The wedding was held as part of the opening ceremonies on Friday evening, and was a surprise to almost everyone there (except Jane, Luke, Vonda and Kate and a very few others).
One of the events of the con was a mail art show, run by Rudi Rubberoid. Rudi was one of my correspondents, but I hadn't met him, so he suggested I drop by and see the show. I got to the hotel and looked around. "Hey!" I said to myself, "This must be that SF fandom I've heard about!" I think I had read some SF writer's memoirs where he was talking about early days of fandom. I joined the convention and hung around the hotel all that day, and came back on Sunday. I remember talking to Luke that day, and lots of other people too. They all seemed very lively, talkative and funny. Eileen gave a humourous talk about dressing as a leather fairy at the Oregon County Fair.
I ran across Jane and Luke again at the Clarion West readings that summer. Then I went to the first Potlatch. Then after I started contracting at Microsoft, I looked out the window one day and saw that Luke was on campus too. That fall I found out that Luke was involved with Cacophony. So I got involved too. I think it was about that time that I started going to Vanguard, a monthly social get-together of the Seattle fan community. (I was too shy before.) Then Jane and Luke (on behalf of the committee) asked me to run the hospitality suite at Potlatch III. I was immensely flattered!
I've helped Luke on some of his Fremont Arts Council activities, but I've limited my involvement with that community. The burnout rate there is rather high, so by acting as Luke's assistant on defined projects, I've saved some energy for other things.
Luke is one of my dearest friends. He can be moody and tough on himself, but he's a talented writer and a trustworthy man. My life would be very different if I hadn't gone to Janecon.
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