Goodbye Unca Carl...

[Frank Stajano]

It's so sad to hear this. 

Only a few days ago I received his last letter (to friends and family),
written almost a month ago (yes, three cheers for the postal system), in
which he described his physical condition getting worse and worse. His
words were full of modesty and dignity, as if to say "don't worry about
me, after all I'm 99 so it's all normal", but they brought tears to my
eyes and upset me for the rest of the day. One could feel that it was
getting near...

I am grateful to destiny for having had the chance to visit him in 1998
while he was still in splendid shape. I shall never forget that weekend at
his home, and will always carry inside me the image of this great old man
with the contagious smile and sparkling eyes who modestly behaved like he
was nobody special and yet was the creator of one of the greatest and most
beloved works of literature of the twentieth century.

Carl Barks was probably the living person I most admired in the world. His
stories were entertaining, delightful and inspiring. I've read of people
who have become archaeologists after reading Barks when they were kids
(and of course we all know about those who became cartoonists);  for me,
the most inspiring character was above all Gyro --- in whose brilliant
creativity and "can do" attitude, by the way, I saw much of Carl Barks
himself.

As I wrote to him in my last letter, his decision to stop his
life-prolonging chemiotherapy brought to my mind the lead character of one
of his last stories (_King Scrooge The First_, 1966) who, in a climax
mixing wisdom and sadness, voluntarily eats the powder that will make him
give up his immortality.

I have plenty more feelings that I would like to express, but I am really
at a loss for words. Sadness. Gratefulness. Respect. 

Once again, Farewell, Old King.

    Frank   (filologo disneyano)  http://www.uk.research.att.com/~fms