That old feeling

[Jules Siegel]

A messenger from UPS just arrived with a great big box of copies of Lineland
from Intangible Assets Manufacturing.

I guess Dale took note of the overwhelming disapproval of his behavior
expressed by the eloquent silence that greeted my reporting his obtuseness
here a few weeks ago. He's on well-deserved vacation now so I can't express
my appreciation directly to him but I do want to offer a tremendous thank
you to everyone on pynchon-l who willingly or unwillingly participated in
this project. At the end, freedom of expression did triumph and that's what
counts the most.

I want to repeat another important statement that I have made privately to
the individuals who commented on the need for a moderator or moderation:

We had a great time in October and November. Is there anyone here now who
was on the list then who would disagree with that judgment?

There were some silly moments and a bit of mostly amusing invective and a
lot of hearty laughter. Some people who made negative statements later
apologized very graciously. No one was told to just shut up and go away.
Most were genuinely appreciative of the contributions that Chrissie and I
made in answering their questions about Thomas Pynchon.

I made several friends I will always treasure. Some of them made a
get-together for Chrissie and Faera in New York. When Faera moved to New
York, Chris Karatnytsky opened her home to her until she found a place of
her own. A number of people sent me books that I've enjoyed thoroughly.
Other packages are still in the mail. I received some very gratifying
compliments about my Thomas Pynchon memoir.

All in all, I found it all a very enriching and intensely satisfying
emotional experience and THAT'S WHY I PUBLISHED THE BOOK!

I really wish that we could get back to that feeling, and I know that we can.

It's really easy. Ac-cen-tu-ate the positive and ee-lim-inate the negative!

How many mailing lists devoted to subjects as fascinating but decidely (and
happily) non-mainstream as the life and works of Thomas Ruggles Pynchon Jr
get any notice at all from the outside world, much less a book devoted to
their ruminations? I am happy that my emergence from 15 years of
self-imposed obscurity began here with all of you. And, once again, from the
depths of my heart, I thank all of you who made this moment of joy possible
for me -- especially Dale L. Larson, Christine Wexler and our silent friend,
Thomas Ruggles Pynchon, Jr.

Honi soit qui mal y pense. Enjoy your fame, pynchon-l!


--Jules Siegel Apdo 1764 Cancun QR 77501
http://www.yucatanweb.com/siegel/jsiegel.htm