Memories of Joel Rosenburg

I just found out via pegkerr that Minnesota writer, Joel Rosenburg has died.

I was never a fan of Joel's, though I shared a signing at Uncles with him once, and, of course, knew him tangentally through Minnesota fandom. We didn't share political views in the least, and, in point of fact, I used to love to tell the story of the time I was fairly certain Joel was going to shoot me (he was known for being a big proponent of "conceal and carry") on a panel about science fiction and 9/11 when I started to talk about my take on Israel. God Herself intervened on my behalf, however, when Joel got a phone call and was forced to leave the panel. I liked to say that I was "saved by the bell."

All that aside, I hope that you rest in peace, Joel Rosenburg. Given everything that's been going on with my family, I feel especially keenly for Joel's family and survivors. At Joel's web site, I read the entire story and have to say I was quite haunted by that phrase "multiple organ failure," because that's been part of what my own father is currently recovering from.