Dear People,
The pond has frogs, but nothing more exciting so far. That’s okay, and if it continues to hold water we’ll consider stocking fish.
I continue to train with Dave Colisanti who was Jonathan’s work-out partner thirty years ago. He continues to be Jonathan’s friend and has become mine also.
Dave was a high level weight-lifter, which meant using steroids. He blames this for the fact that he tends to be scattered now. A thoroughly nice person and extremely good at training. I used to think that that steroids made muscles grow faster; they just make you heal faster so you can train more. You’ve still got to do the work yourself.
It’s like a lot of things. Smart people tend to think there ought to be short cuts. Jim was sure he could lose weight without exercise and eating less. He was wrong. I listened to his repeated spiels on this or that wonder drug that would lead to health and long life with no work–and then ignored the recommendation. Occasionally Jim’s advice was actively harmful as with Seldane. More often they just struck me as something for nothing with unknown side effects as with the pill that made fat pass straight through without being absorbed so you couldn’t get fat if you took the pill before eating the fat meal. I told him that eating less kept me from getting fat, and that anything that interfered with digestion had to have wide-ranging effects. I didn’t hear any more about that one, but Jim’s ashes were scattered in our grove. I miss Jim a lot, but he didn’t always show good judgment.
I was very glad that Jonathan got his size and strength by normal exercise without trying shortcuts. Even if they worked without side-effects a picture demonstrates they aren’t necessary if you’re willing to put in the work.
I guess the same is true in a way about writing in any special field including military sf. Being smart and careful isn’t going to give you the feeling of what it’s like to be under fire.
I couldn’t with understanding write about running a company. I could read heavily about the subject but it wouldn’t convince somebody who really did it.
Best to all of you I hope you’re all doing better than I am.
–Dave Drake
Chatham county NC
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