I remember Ray used to come to Long Beach and visit us. I worked at Gentlemans books next door to Acres of Books. I'll never forget the last time. He wore an American Flag tie and signed a copy of Something Wicked This Way Comes for me. It was a cheap paperback, but to me it is so priceless. He was so big in personality and his entourage shrank when he looked at you. I'm grateful to have met him. John Gentleman my former boss passed away not too long after that. Two great literary giants gone, one in prose and one in knowledge of prose.

May Ray find Nirvana. And I'll keep my book for a lifetime.