Just a quick story of a chance meeting with Ray several years ago in LA (early 80's). I was on my way to see some films at Melnitz Hall on the UCLA campus in West LA, by means of the RTD's UCLA/Wilshire bus when I saw Ray walking along Wilshire Blvd. Having been a fan of his since my early teens in the 60's, I jumped off the bus and chased after him in hopes of meeting him and just to shake his hand. As I approached him it occurred to me that he might be deep in thought about a work in progress and might not appreciate having yet another fan interrupt his thoughts... but as I had never been this close to him, I decided to go for it and walked up along side of him and introduced myself as a devoted fan. Ray gave me a great big smile, shook my hand and with a twinkle in his eye, invited me up to his office in the office building we were standing outside of (NE Corner of Beverly Drive & Wilshire in BH). Stunned by his warmth (how else would he be?), I followed him into this wonderful old building and we rode an elevator up to a floor with a wide marble-floored hallway lined with dark wood paneling. Ray bent over and fumbled with his keys at a dark oak doorway, then turned to me and asked if I could open the door as it had a tendency to get stuck. I also bent over and attempted to open the door, but then I realized that it was beyond my ability to open the lock, and as I stood back up, I suddenly realized that Ray had VANISHED into thin air!!! To my utter amazement, the door opened behind me, and there was Ray with a Chesire Cat's grin as he saw the shocked look on my face. "I just LOVE doing THAT to first time visitors!" Somewhere in that hallway was a secret panel that opened into his Office! Ray then invited me into the inner sanctum of his (at the time) Office and writing studio. It was an experience that I'll never forget and one of my most cherished memories... As a result of the enthusiastic encouragement he gave me, I completely changed the direction of my life and I now work in the Film Industry in LA and continue to write the visions that swirl in my head... GOD BLESS YOU RAY BRADBURY!!!
Posts: 2 | Location: LA, CA, USA | Registered: 03 July 2004
Changing the direction of your life!! Yep. Had that same experience. Amazing isn't it? How do you explain that? It's not magic. It's beyond that. It's like God steps in and uses people like Ray to knock some sense into otherwise empty heads.
Great experience!
Posts: 3954 | Location: South Orange County, CA USA | Registered: 28 June 2002
Margaret