Touching the Ancient One

April 13, 2006

     Comments posted yesterday under the Welcome link by Jackie Whitney Mrowka about Ed Fox served to remind me how much I like this guy.
    Ed and I shared many events and adventures in the early fifties, as related in Touching the Ancient One. We picked up our friendship in 1996 at the first Survivors’ reunion, and we stay in close communication. His upbeat personality has often lifted my spirits just when I needed it.
    We talked a few days ago. I had been worried because he hadn’t answered my email or my phone messages. It turned out he had been caring for his friend, Joyce, who had been hospitalized. It had taken up almost all his time.
    I remembered how he and his then wife, Flo, had treated me in Fairbanks all those years ago when it was me in need of care. Friendship, to Ed, is a serious matter. I started to tell him how much I admired him for the way had looked after Joyce.
    In typical fashion, he didn’t want to hear that. “Well," he said, “She took care of me when I was sick. Turn about is fair play!”
    I couldn’t argue with that, but I can’t help thinking that having Ed Fox for a friend is a very good thing.

Rupert