Dear friends... when Ray visited Buenos Aires, my city, in 1997, after a long wait out of the great room where he spoken to a lot of people, a lot of people out of that room were waiting to enter. I was one of them.
After he finished his monolog, the guardians of the door (1 hour after) they permitted that the people out of room to pass to see personally to Mr Ray.
We formed a long row, awaiting into the conference room.
This was the moment when I saw for the first time to Ray, personally.
... So many years reading his tales, ... his histories, ... his books.

He was signing books for a long time and one hour after was my turn to be in front of Ray.
My emotion was so great.
I gave to him the book i bought to he sign it.
He signed the book.
And I gave to him a little paper with single gratefulness words, and I told him: "This is for you my great martian".
He stand up telling "Oh....." and smiling.
He extended your right hand to me, and I extended my right hand too.
We taken our hands in a salutation, but I made a gestures meaning "why not a huge?"
He smiled, and we embraced ourselves.
I will never forget that moment.
I returned to my home but in the way, i called a taxi.
When the taxi stopped to I go into the car, I closed my right hand, I taken the signed book and a coat pressing it between my body and my right arm. I opened the taxi's door with my left hand and everything what I touched from that moment to the following day I touched it with my left hand.
Whan arrived at home I did not wash the right hand until the night of the following day LOL
Don't be fool and you dont ask me how I made to wash only the left hand until the night

But all that is a simple anecdote.

The most beautiful was the emotion.
Yes, the emotion.

GusSiglo21, I gave Mr. B a copy of your good posting and here is his response to you.

Patrick

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Dear GusSiglo21:

Thank you for your beautiful letter on this Halloween day and for telling about your first encounter with me from so many years ago.

I loved being in Buenos Aires; it was one of the greatest experiences in my life. Everywhere I went it rained love and I didn't need an umbrella to shield myself. I walked in it and was rinsed with love everywhere that I went.

I remember your hug and send you a big hug back along with much love on this special Halloween day.

Ray Bradbury

WOW!

quote:

Originally posted by Braling II:
WOW!

What he said.

I think we all just got an RB hug thanks to GusSiglo21 and everpresent Patrick!! The spirits are always out and about on this site!

I second that WOW!! Thanks for the great story, Gus, and thanks also to Patrick for sharing it with Ray and then sharing his wonderful response with us. It makes Halloween that much brighter!