I spoke with Terry Pace at length earlier today, and after hanging up I called and spoke with Forry. We spoke very briefly. He's quite short of breath as
one might imagine. I told him I loved him and he told me he loved me. To hear those whispered words - for the very first time - brought me to tears. He said he
had to go and thanked me for calling and I sat here, alone in Santa Cruz, wishing for the first time since moving up here that I was back in LA.
I know he's in good hands. Earl is there and I know Joe Moe is there frequently. Between them, I've no doubt they are doing everything they can to keep our Uncle Forry comfortable and happy while he's at home. And with good friends like Lee and Lydia and Anne and Val there, Forry knows what we all think of him.
When I met Forry, back in 1990 or thereabouts, I was like a kid on Christmas Morning. Stammering and making a total ass of myself I'm sure. Over the years, he and I have laughed, chatted, sung duets at conventions, danced (!) and most exciting of all for me - we worked together.
I worked with Forry when I was still publishing Scarlet Street. When I left, he asked me if this was a Warren/Ackerman sort of thing, because if it was, he'd follow me and leave SS. I told him it was personal and between Richard Valley and myself and he should stick with SS 'cause it was a good book and had a damned good editor. He laughed and said, "Well, okay Wonder Woman. If that's the way you want it." And he and Richard worked together for all these years. After one of his birthday parties, I went back to the house and schmoozed a bit with Richard and Tom and Forry beckoned me over after awhile to ask whether the hatchet had yet been buried.... "in Mr. Valley's head?" I almost choked. "No Forrest," said I, "nor will it be. Richard only has one head and I think he should keep it whole and where it is." Or words to that effect. He patted my hand and said, "Now you know why I continue to refer to you as Wonder Woman. What is you name, anyway?"
I also have the good fortune to have worked with Forry on Mondo Cult. He gave Brad and me a wonderful piece on King Kong in issue 1 and of course, he's all over issue 2 as well, in photographs from The Boneyard Collection and such.
Forry and I drove to Kelly Freas' funeral together. We talked about everything under the sun there and back again. He asked me to lunch at the House of Pies and I had to decline as I was expected elsewhere very quickly. He sighed and said, "Jessie, you have to promise me something. When you drive home from my funeral, stop and have lunch at the House of Pies for me, will you? If you don't I'll come back and haunt you."
Every time I'd talk to him whether in person or on the phone, I'd tell him the same thing when we were parting. "I love you Forrest. Take good care." In all these years, he's always said, "Bye bye." Or "You too Wonder Woman." Never, ever did he tell me that he loved me. Hearing him say that today scared the hell out of me, and I hold only the best thoughts that everything works out in the best way for Forry, whatever that may be. He's my friend, and I love him dearly.
My and David's prayers are with you, as always, you old atheist. May God keep you in the palm of his hand.
I know he's in good hands. Earl is there and I know Joe Moe is there frequently. Between them, I've no doubt they are doing everything they can to keep our Uncle Forry comfortable and happy while he's at home. And with good friends like Lee and Lydia and Anne and Val there, Forry knows what we all think of him.
When I met Forry, back in 1990 or thereabouts, I was like a kid on Christmas Morning. Stammering and making a total ass of myself I'm sure. Over the years, he and I have laughed, chatted, sung duets at conventions, danced (!) and most exciting of all for me - we worked together.
I worked with Forry when I was still publishing Scarlet Street. When I left, he asked me if this was a Warren/Ackerman sort of thing, because if it was, he'd follow me and leave SS. I told him it was personal and between Richard Valley and myself and he should stick with SS 'cause it was a good book and had a damned good editor. He laughed and said, "Well, okay Wonder Woman. If that's the way you want it." And he and Richard worked together for all these years. After one of his birthday parties, I went back to the house and schmoozed a bit with Richard and Tom and Forry beckoned me over after awhile to ask whether the hatchet had yet been buried.... "in Mr. Valley's head?" I almost choked. "No Forrest," said I, "nor will it be. Richard only has one head and I think he should keep it whole and where it is." Or words to that effect. He patted my hand and said, "Now you know why I continue to refer to you as Wonder Woman. What is you name, anyway?"
I also have the good fortune to have worked with Forry on Mondo Cult. He gave Brad and me a wonderful piece on King Kong in issue 1 and of course, he's all over issue 2 as well, in photographs from The Boneyard Collection and such.
Forry and I drove to Kelly Freas' funeral together. We talked about everything under the sun there and back again. He asked me to lunch at the House of Pies and I had to decline as I was expected elsewhere very quickly. He sighed and said, "Jessie, you have to promise me something. When you drive home from my funeral, stop and have lunch at the House of Pies for me, will you? If you don't I'll come back and haunt you."
Every time I'd talk to him whether in person or on the phone, I'd tell him the same thing when we were parting. "I love you Forrest. Take good care." In all these years, he's always said, "Bye bye." Or "You too Wonder Woman." Never, ever did he tell me that he loved me. Hearing him say that today scared the hell out of me, and I hold only the best thoughts that everything works out in the best way for Forry, whatever that may be. He's my friend, and I love him dearly.
My and David's prayers are with you, as always, you old atheist. May God keep you in the palm of his hand.
