My crazy tale
STORY TIME, PEOPLE!
Alright, so I am a huge fan of a generally unknown author, Greg Kramer. He wrote 4 novels in the 90′s and early oughts filled with bizarre tales of sexuality and drugs and adventure. They had pretty obvious discordian themes as well, which lead me in 2009 to email him to confirm that these themes were what I believed them to be.
He was overjoyed that not only did people remember his books, but that he had an actual fan. He talked about his inspirations for his books, referenced works I was very familiar with, and generally seemed very pleased to be talking about it. He asked me about myself and wanted to keep talking with me, but I was awkward and procrastinated on a reply and eventually just forgot.
Fast forward to this past holiday season. I remember this old exchange with this author and thought it would be nice to reconnect. The old email account is long gone, so I go searching online to find his old website.
He died in 2013.
I was devastated. I felt ashamed for not responding to him the first time, and based on his health before death he must have known when we were speaking that he didn’t have long left. I’ve made it my goal to find where he’s buried so I can try and pay my respects. I reach out to his old theater, his manager, people close to him from articles, and eventually I reach an old friend of his, Richard Cliff. He tells me he’s buried in England with his mother, but some ashes were scattered in Canada, only two and a half hours away from me.
Meanwhile, my wife buys me the last 2 books I don’t own by Greg Kramer. One book, the only copy anywhere to be found on the internet, arrives already signed and dedicated. I cried. I might never meet him and get an autograph, but I have this. I read around a bit in the book, and notice Richard Cliff, the man I’m speaking with, is in the dedication page! What a coincidence! BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE! The inscription in the book was to “Richard.” The same?
I check with Richard Cliff and yes, it is his book! What are the damn odds?
now… do I give him the book back?
