Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 07:49:20 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Nelson <nelson_mr at yahoo.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Gilliland Fliers
To: WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net
Cc: wsfa-forum at yahoogroups.com
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

This is so sad.

I have a big confession to make.  Even after over twenty-five years in
fandom, I am still just a big fat fan boy.  My extreme admiration for
the people who create the dream stuff that brings us so much pleasure
and contemplation still causes me to painfully freeze up in the
presence of the Creators -- even people I've known for years like Jack
Chalker, Steve Stiles, and Alexis.

When I started attending WSFA meetings in 1991, I was awestruck that a
multi-Hugo winning artist and writer would allow us serfs into his home
every month.  I went out and searched used bookstores until I had a
complete set of Alexis' 'Rosinante' series and and a copy of Wizenbeak.
 I never had the nerve to ask him to autograph them... I feared I would
be considered a crazy fan boy.  Sort of like the saying, "Better to
remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all
doubt."  It was a great honor for me when Alexis agreed to be Artist
GoH for my Capclave in 2002 (BTW, could someone add him as Artist GoH
of Capclave 2002 on the wsfa.org list of past Disclaves/Capclaves?  Lee
and Alexis must think Keith and I plotted together to delete his name
from the list.)

I'm very sorry Alexis and Lee feel that I was masterminding a plot
against them.  I simply decided not to attend First Friday meetings
after Lee made her baseless accusations against Keith.  I never
suggested that anyone else should also avoid those meetings.  It was a
personal decision based on Lee's pig-headed refusal to accept the clear
evidence that her actions were completely wrong.

Michael

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