I had to do a bit of driving last night. Mostly it involved picking up people who needed or wanted to be here for Christmas who were unable to obtain their own transportation. However, in an odd turn that has me pondering, our art director asked me to autograph a photo for a friend, someone who started his role playing game experience in my living room about two decades ago. Thus at five this morning I was sitting in the restaurant where we usually hold our directors meetings discussing company plans when I should have been abed.

Before anyone asks for an autographed photo, I don’t actually have the photos–the art director made this one especially for his friend, one of the few people from that gaming group with whom he still has much contact. I was flattered to do it, as I am given to understand that my photo will appear on his study wall along with Neil Gaiman and Stan Lee and a few others, and while it’s a private wall, it’s still a surprising place for me to find my image. I apparently made someone’s shortlist of favorite authors, although whether it is because he likes my work or because I influenced his thought (he wants to write) or simply because he knows me I don’t care to speculate.

There is too much to do for me to be here, but there seems also to be some spanners in the works, so rather than waste time sitting on my hands waiting for others to be ready, I’m going to get as much done as I am able.

–M. J. Young