A somewhat calmer day, as Mondays generally are. Spent the morning at my table, and then went to the Star Trek track of “An hour with Peter David” (which for fans probably feels more like a week with Peter David, but okay). To my utter surprise the room was packed. I read the opening chapter of the next New Frontier novel, “After the Fall,” which should be out later this year. Once again Caroline made an awwwww-inspiring appearance, this time decked out in a little yellow STTOS command shirt. She climbed up on a chair behind the table, beamed at the audience, and I did the Hammer thing again. Once again she boogied to it. The child simply adores being in front of an audience. Milks them for all they’re worth.
At 1 PM was a panel remembering Julie Schwartz which Harlan moderated. These types of memorial panels are never easy. All in all, it went as well as such things good, recalling Julie fondly but savoring his gruffness and kvetching as much as anything.
I went down to the dealer’s room after that and spotted Soupy Sales. I went over and immediately told him how much his show meant to me as a kid. He opened his mouth…and sat there. Mouth open. Like a toy that had run out of batteries. I stood there confused, uncertain of what to do, and the younger woman with him–his wife–immediately replied. We discussed the merchandise on the table and I bought two books. Soupy then worked on signing them, holding the marker carefully, and very softly I asked his wife if he’d had a stroke. She indicated that, no, he’d had some kind of operation (indicating the chest.) I don’t know what sort of surgery could cause someone to “lock up” like that. He did manage to say “Thank you” perfectly clearly several times, so I’m unclear what the deal was. But it saddened me greatly, seeing someone who I remembered as so vital just sort of trapped in his own body that way.
I went back to my table for a time, but by 4 PM the place was pretty much dead. So I’m back here in the hotel room, babysitting the snoozing Caroline, while Kath is at a panel and Ariel is prowling the dealer’s room. I’m worried about what will happen tomorrow with the rains predicted and whether it will interfere with our getting back.
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