Carl and Don

[Chuck Munson]

Hi all,

Delurking after an interminably long time with all the
usual and a couple unusual reasons and hoping list
members I owe e-mails to will have a little bit more
patience with me!

Just wanted to repeat a couple thoughts I sent to
Gerry Tank last year to pass along to Carl when he was
ailing.  It is truly thanks to Carl that I became an
insatiable reader, with an interest in geography, and
maps, and geneaology (my own attempts at eight years
old to list the Ducks pales against the efforts of
fellow list members).  Other things may spark these
interests in others, but for me it was the tales of a
duck (in a sailor suit, but that never seemed to enter
the picture), his three clever nephews, and the
incredibly rich uncle who took them everywhere and did
everything.  I had the great fortune to meet Carl
briefly twice, and he struck me as a fellow who would
always be a bit bemused that these "little stories" he
wrote and drew to earn a living could inspire such
devotion and memories in adults whom the rest of the
world would always assume should "grow up."  Carl and,
by extension, everyone, who appeal to our sense of
wonder and enjoyment of the world which is just
waiting out there for us, prove that growing up does
not mean loosing imagination and wonder.  It is a sad
comment that Carl's birthday went, to my knowledge,
unnoticed here.

I want to add my voice to the folks who can vouch for
the generosity and willingness to converse that an
encounter with Don brings.  The last time I met Don
was last year when he appeared at the small (but
incredibly packed) Donald Duck Museum/Shop outside of
Strasburg, Pennsylvania.  Fellow list members Gary
Pantzer and Archontis Pantsios had driven down from
New York (one of you wrote a huge write-up for the
list - Archontis I believe?) and my fiance Becky and I
drove up from the DC area.  Don, you were, as ever,
friendly and incredibly obliging.  You did a sketch
for us (Donald and Daisy - again obliging since I know
you don't normally do Daisy) which we intended for a
dear friend who enjoys Donald and Daisy. (By the way,
this friend was a reader at our wedding this past
Saturday and when we presented it to her she was
absolutely thrilled.  Thank you again!)  So, gentle
list members, although Don has already said it so well
for himself, I add for myself and Becky, don't let
anyone tell you that Don is anything less than a
gentleman!

Stepping down from the soapbox-
Take care everyone,
Chuck Munson


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