by Lynda Williams

volume 2, number 3

Reflections on Water bids farewell, this issue, to cofounder Dr. Sue Matheson. Sue was a potent force for productivity. Maybe that's why we're two weeks behind with this issue. In her own words, she is having "a great time at the track" and plans to take a long break. More power to her. I think everyone who knows Sue will agree race horses are her first love.

Just today, while thinking about this editorial, I ran into Kristin Jarvis, who took Creative Writing with Sue at the course offered in Wells, B.C. way back in - was it 1999? Kirstin remembered it all vividly, two years later, and counted it a marvelous experience. Reflections on Water contributor Victoria Scott dropped into my office, not long ago, looking for Sue, as well, and hopes to catch up with her again some day. Always a very 'doing' sort of person with strong opinions, Sue made me look pretty laid back by comparison and there were moments when that wasn't always comfortable, but these is no doubt Sue made a lasting impression on those she inspired and befriended during her time with us in Prince George and there would be no Reflections on Water now without her initiative.

Personally, my favorite memories centre on the trips Sue engaged me in as an emerging writer, which took us to McKenzie to a reading for, and with, Susan Herzog's students; and to Wells before that.

Sue advised me to pick something juicy for my reading so I chose a scene that saw my male protagonist debriefing his mother on a trip, in a walk-in hot tub, which progressed through some hanky panky to end on the line "pain really shouldn't have surprised him". Nobody did anything for a moment, just stared. I thought they'd hated it. Then the applause began. Sue assured me, with glee, they'd been awestruck. An exaggeration my untried ego was grateful to absorb. I also remember an interesting night spent in a single room of the Wells Hotel with Sue and I and romance writer Marilyn Storie and her rather new baby girl. Marilyn had hitchhiked all the way. Her plan for accommodation was to curl up around the baby on the floor and go to sleep. And Sue was cool with that. But Marilyn is another story (pun irresistible).

Hail and farewell, Sue, from your friends in the Northern Interior of B.C. Hope we hear from you on "Views" now and then.