Quest for meaning

Quest for Meaning is the name Jan Olandese, an oxford scholar Jim knows in Las Vegas, who he persuaded to write the opening essay for Quest, and wow, did she do a great job, the best thing ever written about me and my work. Knocked me over when I read it. She had my other books and some images Jim had and she managed to get me clearly in her sights. Three old friends have volunteered to write personal pieces, something about my development over time. Mary Harvey was the first to ask to write something for me. She sent me an email last night to tell me she was cleaning the attic and found a parcel of letters I wrote to her 40 years ago. She wanted to send them to me, but I said no thanks I have enough clutter in my studio the way it is. I suggested she read a few letters; they may give her an angle to work on that she hadn't thought of to date. Stan Derelian  also wanted to write a piece but, alas I haven't heard form him since and it has been about a month. Both he and Mary are procrastinators, so I keep reminding them to start writing. Finally there is Dick Wist, who I hadn't talk to or seen for 35 years. Liz, his ex-wife, said I should call him as he is interested to help me out. Dick had a stroke about two months ago but he sounded pretty good over the phone, although at 88 he talks in a stuttery, hesitate manner. His sense of humor is still intact and he said he'd put something together about our time at UNLV.

Now that the holidays are over Jim and I can refocus on the book. There has been a lot of back and forth between us and the first thing I have to do today is call Sarnoff's and Reproductions Unlimited, to see what the cost will be to have 50 or 60 pen and inks scanned. I have them all picked out, all but 6 old drawings reclaimed after being digitized. Jim will  have to determine if we can use them or not. I thought about using some of the new work, the so-called "Bone-yard Fancies," but I decided not too, because they indicate a drastic style change.