What I Learned
from Carolyn See
West
coast writer and amazing supporter of literature and
other writers died this week of cancer at eighty-two.
I was surprised to learn how old she was. I didn’t
know her well but she had an aura of perpetual youth
and energy. Perhaps it was her passion for the literary
world.
We
both served as instructors for UCLA Extension’s
renowned Writers’ Program. But she was a veteran
and I was new and feeling insecure. She showed up at
a panel I served on at the venerable (and ancient by
independent bookstore standards—more than 100
years old!) Vroman’s in Pasadena. When I introduced
myself she grinned. “I know who you are,”
she said.
It
was one of the small indications of her generosity to
her readers and other and to other writers. There it
was. A casual remark that makes a fellow writer feel
good. The other gift, of course, was showing up at the
event.
So,
I’m using this short column to remind both readers
and authors to show up and be kind. It’s a pass-it-forward
kind of thing. In honor of Carolyn See.
And,
Oh! I can’t resist. In lieu of flowers or tears,
do yourself a favor and read her Golden
Days. That’s the best kind of gift we
who love literature can give to another.
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