Alexander Key wrote children's books. I became entranced with his writing when I was introduced to him via The Forgotten Door in fourth grade. I just loved it. It has the same sort of lost in the story feeling as the Madeleine L'Engle books for me.

So, because I'm that kind of person, and was certainly that kind of kid (it wasn't the last time I did this) - I wrote him a letter. He wrote me back, and very sweetly kept up a bit of a sporadic correspondence for a few years. It meant the world to me.

I just looked him up in Wikipedia, because something else reminded me of his writing, and see that he passed away in 1979. Our correspondence was in the few years preceding that. And all I can think is how thankful I am that I was able to have a moment of his time, before email, before there were no more paper letters. It still means a lot to me.

I also have a paper letter from Tom Robbins, on stationary from the Screaming Voodoo Ranch. That was a nice thing as well. I made Tom Robbins a present at the time, being that I was of that age, seeing myself in his characters, taking on the world. It never made it to him. It still sits on the kitchen ledge. I was smitten with Jitterbug Perfume. I started eating beets again. And because I was doing ceramics at the time, I made a beet bowl. It's just a shallow footed bowl with beets on it. Kind of cool in it's way. I don't precisely regret not sending it. But it's a reminder. It's good to be engaged with what you read, and to let people know that you appreciate their efforts. It's good to reach out and feed the karma network.