to Tim, aka Meteor Blades.
It was in early spring of 2004. I had been here a few months. Some of my diaries got little attention, some got more. Some got none. I was struggling to find my voice.
Then out of the blue one day I received an email. Tim, the experienced editor as well as superb writer, had reached out to encourage me to keep writing. He had seen something in my writing I had not seen myself as I continued to struggle, and he had accurately assessed that I was considering leaving, although I had mentioned nothing about directly.
For better or worse, I kept at it, and eventually found something of a voice, just as I found a place in this community. Without his encouragement I might well not have stayed.
Over the intervening 7+ years we have exchanged a few emails and a few direct messages. Occasionally there would be a comment that would mean a lot to me, as when in this diary about a man I knew who was dying, Tim offered the following words in this comment:
Ah. We've reached the age, you and I, when ... (22+ / 0-)
...so many of those we knew are on their deathbeds. I'm glad Dana can see the garden from his. Thanks for sharing.
Like a cyclone, imperialism spins across the globe; militarism crushes peoples and sucks their blood like a vampire. K. Liebknecht
by Meteor Blades on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 04:39:22 PM PDT
I am sure I am not alone in having experienced that side of Tim.
We had few direct conversations. A couple in Pittsburgh, some passing exchanges in Minneapolis, and one more extended conversation in Minneapolis. I cannot say I know the man. We are age contemporaries, but our experiences have been very different.
Two things always came through. First was his intelligence, which was superb. The other, even more outstanding, was his humanity.
I offered a comment on the diary. But for me that was not enough.
I felt I had to offer these words directly.
Whatever the reasons for his decision, I will respect them. I will offer the greatest gift I can give back for what he has given me and so many others - as we Quakers say, Tim, I will hold you and your family "In The Light."
Peace, friend. You especially have earned it for yourself.