I love words. I love how they flow through my brain. Sometimes they drift slow enough for me to capture them and mull them over, contemplating their meanings in different combinations at my leisure. Other times it is like a lightening storm as they strike and throw me off balance until I capture one or more and let them carry me to a new destination.
As much as I say how I love words, they are a frustrating bunch of companions in my head who do not always come out to play when I ask them to. Sometimes they slip out in small coherent bunches, and sometimes I drag them out and laboriously glue them into place for a post or an article. However, there are times where events or people affect me in a way that rolls out the red carpet and those impish words polish themselves and walk right out with no muss or fuss. That is one of the best feelings to one who writes.
When I saw +Mar Mai debut graphic novel, The Dragon Tutor (http://goo.gl/D84Be), making it's rounds through my circles of friends I was not in the first wave of readers. I am not sure I was even in the second wave, and I had not interacted much with her in posts or comments. The novel was just getting ready to go off a limited free give-away on Amazon so I snagged a copy. Upon reading, it really struck a cord in me. I am a comic collector from my earliest days reading, a sci-fi and fantasy reader since I can remember, and an avid fan of pop and geek culture. Her novel hit me on all levels but still, almost magically, was just as easily consumed by mainstream culture and, as if she really needed to impress me more, hit the right balance to be enjoyed by both younger and older generations. I did not so much write a review for her as I did sit back and get out of the way as the progression of words made it out from the recesses of my mind, down through my fingers, and into text.
The second joy for me in writing, after the peace that comes from getting text to the page, is finding out that the emotion I put into something I wrote made a successful journey to someone else. Calling out the talent or deeds of another is especially gratifying in that I not only get to capture some of what they touched me with and maybe return a bit of that positive energy back to them, but I get to shine a light so others can see and share in what I discovered. It was a pleasure to write a review for Mar Mai and her elation at receiving well deserved recognition for her talent was overwhelming. I watched as she went on to draw her thank-you's to others for their reviews and not only show more of her talent to the world but her graciousness and true down-to-earth humility. Wishing that I had a wider reach, I wrote another review of Mar and her art in general, not just The Dragon Tutor book. She's an inspiring young lady so the words, again, came very easy, and were received with Mar's infectious energy and signature Glomping (http://goo.gl/E30gr) – what in real life would be a mega-hug that would most likely leave a person in traction.
All this being said, I am much more used to being in the shadows behind the words. This last Saturday, Mar drew a thank-you to me by immortalizing me in her artwork (http://goo.gl/YSwaw). However, along with the art, she put me on the receiving end to a lot of very complimentary words. Although I had merrily read other's reactions to her thank-yous, it was quite something else all-together to be in her spotlight. Words like poet and allusions to Lewis Carroll's snark and Charles Dickens' third ghost are heady compliments indeed. My brain literally went silent. I do not exaggerate in the least when I say I wiped the corner of my eye and it had nothing to do with airborne particles or allergies.
Thank you Mar, for being brave enough to share your art with the world. Thank you for having a personality as big and wonderful as your talent. Thank you also for giving me the reason and joy to put more words down on the page. I totally forgive you for turning the tables on me and turning me into a silent weepy eyed mute.
Lastly, thank you in your words for assigning to me one of the most powerful that I know. Friend.
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D'awwwww ! wonderful response ….. !!
Well said, and well deserved, my dear. <3
Beautifully said.
Awwwwww. +Scott Cramer that's beyond awesome. And I agree with every word accorded – to you AND +Mar Mai
A brilliantly worded response once again. I'm a little teary-eyed from reading that 🙂 Anything I could possibly add you've already said, in much more elegant words 🙂
Wow, nicely said…
Nice. I've only started reading comics and graphic novels this year. I started with Watchmen. I think I'm going to give this one a go.
+Matt Ingrouille you're in for a pleasant surprise! 🙂
+Scott Cramer Oh, my gosh! Scott, this is a great response, bro. I'm sure Mar will be delighted to read this. You had a lot more to say than I ever did with my response, but I agree with everything said here. I was also not among the first to check out The Dragon Tutor I found her just before Halloween, when someone else on my circles. I want to say it was +Paul Stickland (if it wasn't you, Paul, my apologies! Heh heh heh.) — someone in my circles shared her G+ comics, and I enjoyed those, and I loved her character, too. 🙂 I also saw the Dragon Tutor deal where people can get it for free for a limited time. I gave it read, and I thoroughly enjoyed that, also. I also decided to post a review on Amazon — even if I didn't make it to get a profile pic, I wouldn't have regretted posting that review, because she earned it. As for the profile images, what I can say? I was literally blown away with each of them. I couldn't believe she was actually taking the time doing all of them. I believe I got my pic just a few hours later. I was choked up, like I'm doing now. She didn't have to do this, but she was so kind and generous enough to do it, anyway. You can't say very many people would do the same thing. Mar's easily one of the best discoveries I've made on Google+. I don't just love her talent, but her personality makes it way better. I hope someday if I find a someone in my life and get married, I hope she is as fun, awesome, and very sweet and generous like Mar. There aren't enough of those people in this world. still a bit choked up
Anyway, Scott, I know I just ran into you recently, but you seem pretty cool yourself, and this shows. Awesome post, man — great to see you here on G+. This is a great community to be part of.
I've never purchased a comic for Kindle before because I didn't think it would look good on my phone or eInk Kindle but with my Nexus 7 it looks fantastic. I just got a copy from Kindle.com. I've read digital comics before and had to flip or zoom. On the Nexus it looks really good though. It looks like this was written with the digital format in mind. I think I'm going to enjoy it.
Thanks for the link, mate! I love the words. 🙂
+Carlos Balderas Damnit you're gonna make me tear up. I barely made it through +Scott Cramer !
I sense an oncoming glompstorm…=)
+Tracy Holmes I'm sorry, Tracy! XD I had to let out how I was feeling. fighting back tears
+Charlie Hoover Heh heh heh, we'll try to be prepared for that! 🙂
Awesome response.
"..her graciousness and true down-to-earth humility."
"Mar's infectious energy and signature Glomping.."
Well said bro.
I have to agree. I've really enjoyed my interactions with both +Mar Mai and older sister +Mary C. (not nearly as frequent or as often as I would like!)
The sisters are on my list of favorites in this alternate universe that I love to visit!
I'm sure that +Mar Mai will let this post just quietly slip past her.
bwahahaha. Right!
I'm going to take cover now. Will hiding under the kitchen table protect me from Glomp fall-out?
Nothing can protect you…
Forget winter, Glomp is coming…
The Glomp must flow!
This is a beautiful response +Scott Cramer 🙂 nothing I could ever come up but it describes what +Mar Mai is perfectly. Thank you for sharing your thoughts Scott.
+Charlie Hoover heh. You inspired me: http://goo.gl/O4lAi
You spelled 'gave an excuse' wrong… =)
heh. something like that. 🙂
He is the head of My Sun and Stars Fanclub after all 🙂
<words>
Love it. It's a lovely gift you gave her and she really earns it, too.
Thanks to all of you for the thanks for my thanks of Mar's thanks for my thanks! It is dizzyingly reciprocally meta and one of the many reasons I less than three all of you!
Thank you Scott for the thanks for your thanks for the thanks of Mar. I would also like to thank my coffee for bringing me this far. Thank you I think.
So… the "G" in "G+" stands for "Glomp!" Love it. 😉
Wow, you're a lovely guy Scott 🙂
I'm just… gah! ^_^ hugs +Scott Cramer and +Keith Cramer
I just don't know what to say. (must… regroup… emotions)
So for now just, thank you my friend. :]
Have no fear, there's a GLOMP STORM on it's way to be sure… just as Charlie predicted!
I have this feeling this is all going to turn into a one-up stunning the other friend thing… XD
Mar is speechless at the moment, but yes… glomps are most certainly on the way once she recovers XD
Give her a bit of fresh coffee +Mary C. 😛
+Mary C. Let the fun begin!
An excellent suggestion +Dirk Reul! In fact… I hear her shuffling nervously in the kitchen now.
Big sister is on the way to save the day! 😀
((highfives)) +Carlos Balderas indeed!! Indeeeeed!! After coffee's of course! XD
I'll be back later. Gotta help someone with PC problems. 😛 Can't wait to see the fun!
GLOMP!!! GLOMP GLOMP GLOMP!!!!glompGLOMP!! Oh WhA?!! GLOMP! Takes breath GLOM!P!!!!!! GLOMPG LGOMPG LGOMGPGMLGMGPGMGPGMLGMGPMGGLLGMGMPGMGLGMGMLGPGMPPGMGPMPGMGPGMPGMPGMGP!!!!!!
Raises white flag.
This is it… I surrender!! I'm sobbling too much to continue!!
Awww. Love you, Mar. (big starfishsnugglepatsonthebackhugs)
hugs
Have a cookie with your coffee, hun. big hug
Cookies 'n' coffee… mmmmmm
Me after Glomping: http://goo.gl/fwgBB
bwahahahahah +Scott Cramer . Are you alright? Use your thumb and start blowing yourself back up!
+Scott Cramer yeup! That's about it right there! XD
+Tracy Holmes XD
Scott's daughter is quite good at glomping Scott. I can make sure she does a really good one in your honor this weekend +Mar Mai & +Mary C. 😉
Wow…more left of you than i thought. Maybe you should create another +Mar Mai post.
🙂
+Kristi Fahlsing that would be MOST awesome!! We will pay her most handsomely for the deed!! Hehehehehee
+Keith Cramer you are EVIL!!! heheheh
GAH! Poor +Scott Cramer!! I've glomped him into squished goodness!! XDD
Sorry I was gone everyone… my computer died on me and then updated without permission grumbles, dumb PC laptop XD
+Kyla Myers I love you too!!
+Tracy Holmes You too!! hugs!!
+Kristi Fahlsing That would be AWESOME! hehehehe!! You can tell her for me that I think her Dad rocks!!!
+Keith Cramer Teehee!! I think he's been glomped enough for awhile!! THEheheheheheeh!!!!! You know you totally rock, yes?? GLOMP!!!
+Mar Mai & +Mary C. Consider it done! 😉 hehehe
+Kristi Fahlsing *GLOMP!!!!*
🙂
<3 <3 <3 +Kristi Fahlsing eggsssss-cellent!!!! evil chortlings
dawwww! mwah! +Mar Mai +Mary C.
Oh my gosh you guys. You have no idea how much all of this touches me. I have that good kind d heartache.
Thank you all for being my friend. I'm just a little too chocked up right now to say much more. You all mean a lot to me!!
gentle glomp!
puppy bear hug
<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
+Mar Mai the feeling is mutual my dear GLOMP
😀 😀 😀
I want in on some of this glomp action too! glomps everyone here~!
Glomp all the people
(My auto correct recognised Glomp by the way :p )
All your Glomp are belong to us.
Great, Bro. Do not say things that make me chuckle while I still have Photoshop up on the big monitor.
^^^^^ What +Keith Cramer said!
Already pictured it in my head too bro. On mobile plus my head isn't into anything too detailed tonight.
Blah. Words not friend tonight. Glump.
Okay, Keith, here it is. "ALL YOUR GLOMP ARE BELONG TO US." Or at least to +Mar Mai. 😉
https://plus.google.com/u/0/105986763264590753118/posts/brNruwaczKu
+Mar Mai We really appreciate you being here and for being an awesome friend. Scott's post choked me up, and I choked up more when I responded to it. As I said in an earlier post, i don't tear up much, but lately, I've become more of a softy. Hee hee hee. XD
+Carlos Balderas Glomp!!! the best!!!!! Thank you so much!! Sobble!!
+Scott Cramer & everyone already said it so much better, but the beauty is that you are deserving of every word, +Mar Mai. On top of everything, you are the silicon that bonds this merry band of misfits together! (wink to +Chris Mallory)
+Jake Kern Oh gosh, you've started them again!! The sobbles!! XD
Thank you Jake!! I can't tell you how much it means to me to have all of your friendships!!! hugs! It means the world!!!
+Mar Mai I can't say more than what's been said here by +Scott Cramer and the rest of the gang…so I'll just leave this here:
Epic Manly Man Squee!!!
And
Super Duper Awesome Mega GLOMPS to you +Mar Mai !!!
The smallest actions can have the biggest impacts. 🙂
+Damian Sanchez Load up that comment and add a million and that's how I feel about you too!! HUGS!! Gosh, the sobbles are going to be an all day thing for me I see!! 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
Sounds good!! 😀 😀 😀 GLOMP!!!
What's glomp?
+Arnav Kalra I think this explains it best! https://plus.google.com/105986763264590753118/posts/aSE7REHVT3d
+Mar Mai haha would you glomp me?
I would surely love to hug you.
awwww *sniffs* it's beautiful +Scott Cramer
+Arnav Kalra Hm. Glomp etiquette might preclude the asking for a Glomp. A Glomp by nature is kind of a last minute look-up and see it coming thing. I have loaned out my "How not to come across like a creeper" book or I would see if there is a section on the Glomp. 😉
I hope I did not come across as a creep. I'm not one.
Well put +Scott Cramer … yep, a glomp by nature is something which is precluded by an ambush and surprise 😉
S'all good +Arnav Kalra. Just a humorous warning that peeps are very sensitive to it. I actually think you are a pretty decent character,
:S there I am overly busy and then all this — long reading for me — and worth it too
glomp on all of the "comment flooders"
I don't know how and when /why I made it into this "circle" of great people – but I love it
thanks to +Mar Mai +Mary C. +Kyla Myers +Chris Mallory +Scott Cramer +Carlos Balderas +Keith Cramer +Charlie Hoover +Dirk Reul +Tracy Holmes ………… and some others more
Ahhh…thanks +Micha Fire !! hugs
+Tracy Holmes yer welcome …………
hugsback
midnight here I should be in bed sleeping to recover for tomorrows work 😛
Psst +Mar Mai & +Mary C. The glomping in your honor was completed today…TWICE! Hee hee! Was AWESOME! 🙂 +Scott Cramer had no idea what was happening…until he got GLOMPED! 😉
Yes, yes. My daughter about keeled me.
Muahahahahahahahaha!
+Kristi Fahlsing thank you for the update!! Hehehehe You're welcome +Scott Cramer! :B