Bill Zuckert

15 December 1915-23 January 1997

28 February

It was about 70 degrees yesterday! In February!!
However, of course, I had worn a turtleneck and my giant parka, so I was somewhat uncomfortable, but it was a gorgeous day.

There has been some talk around Open Pages these days about mean e-mails. One journal apparently went off-line because of them, and both Diane and Ophelia quote some dreadful ones. Which they are both reacting to in a mature manner. I don't know how I'd deal with it if it happened to me.

I'm such a delicate flower, I get hurt if another journal DOESN'T talk about me or if I DON'T get an award, I'd probably burst into tears if I got something that nasty. And if I stay on-line long enough, I'm certain to.

I mean, if they can say something mean to Ophelia...

So many people have written to me about my father, and they say things like "I'm so sorry...I know that sounds stupid...", and I just want to clarify this thought.

When I was sixteen, my friend Stacy's father was murdered right in front of her house, and I was afraid of saying the wrong thing, so I said nothing. A few days later, she said to me "Didn't you hear that my father was killed?" and I said "Yes, but I didn't know what to say." Later, I wrote a poem for her about it, and I think that she forgave me in time.

I understand now. You mustn't be afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Saying nothing at all is unforgivable--saying anything, no matter how weak you think it is, is the right thing to do.

The first Christmas picture, 1966,
and the last Christmas picture, 1996.

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Last Updated Tues 18 August 11:53:09 1998