Thank You, Gary Gygax

I met you once at Gencon when I worked at one of the other company booths, across from yours. I was shy and couldn't figure out how to put my words together. The lady working the booth with you and I became booth buddies and she quickly recognized an opportunity for amusement after hearing me go from reasonable human being to stuttering fangirl whenever you were mentioned. She gleefully insisted I meet you because she liked how much I blushed as we talked. I admired you, you see. You showed so many of us how to engage our imaginations in an active way.

She shoved me in front of you during a lull and I remember your kind, expectant expression. I managed to stammer out a thank you and something about how honored I was to meet a man who inspired so many and especially me or some other bullshit as my palms became sweaty and my booth buddy held her stomach and stood behind you, laughing herself toward a hernia. You were totally cool, amused, gracious and said you were touched by my honesty. You teased me enough to make me blush, much to my booth buddy's delight. You signed a rulebook I had with me and urged me to always explore, investigate and take the adventurous route with everything I do. To have fun.

We spoke a bit longer as the first flush of fangirl geekdom simmered to reasonable human levels. We talked about the con, working the booths and what you had planned next. You had a great laugh. I remember thinking you could totally do Santa Claus duty, which then lead to odd thoughts of D&D adventuring Santa (wouldn't his Sack be a Bag of Holding, technically?)

All of my gaming culture started with the local boys in the neighborhood and two games: Top Secret and D&D/AD&D. I played them for years and by the time I found other worlds to explore, I appreciated the foundation D&D had given me. I knew nothing else in my gaming life would ever feel as true or compare to that innocent time of discovery and play with Rangers, vorpal swords, liches, taverns, loot and traps. I learned to be afraid of a deck of cards and always look up when entering any dungeon. D&D helped me develop my imagination, sense of play and adventure, and honed my ability to think through consequences to actions; all skills and joys that have been valuable through my entire life.

Thank you. Roll the dice, play and have fun on your next grand adventure. You are still admired and will always be missed by this fangirl.