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Gail Mooney and Tom Kelly document a group of students retracing the steps of the Freedom Riders of the early sixties. The students will never forget this event. After seeing this documentarty, neither will I.

Gail and Tom know that I am a long time fan. A trailer for Open Your Eyes. Gail ‘s nine month adventure with her daughter Erin may be seen Gail’s blog. . It is superb and proves that anything may be done when it comes from the heart.

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Coke bottle bottom eyeglasses coupled with a gray whispy Fu Manchu beard accented Lester del Rey’s persona. He was wearing Crayola burnt sienna Haband ban- rolled polyester slacks and a lime–green permanent–press leisure suit jacket. Around his neck was a bolo tie which fastened with a fixture that lit up mysteriously like a window to the cosmos. This package suggested a contemporary version of Tolkien’s wizard Gandolf. When he spoke, he blustered.

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.Judy Lynn and Lester del Rey

Circa 1974

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Lester had been appointed fantasy editor of del Rey Books, a division of Ballantine Books which was a division of Random House, to complement his wife Judy Lynn Benjamin del Rey. Judy Lynn founded the del Rey imprint and was a highly respected science fiction editor turning obscure authors into giants in spite of the fact that she was a dwarf. It was she who had presented Lester with a box of freshly printed business cards which read, Lester del Rey, Expert. And he was. I was the new Art Director. It was the mid-seventies.

Lester intimidated guests regularly on one of the first all night radio talk shows hosted by Long John Nebel and his wife Candy Jones during the fifties. I would listen on my pocket sized red transistor radio with a tiny ear piece when I should have been doing my algebra homework. Lester was a science fiction writer for more years than I was alive. His first short story was published in Astounding Science Fiction in the mid-thirties. He was a frequent contributor during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. I remember seeing the credits scroll by on Captain Video, the first of televisions space odysseys about 1949. Lester del Rey was the science advisor.

A quarter century later, I stood before this great man in awe holding his business card and accepting an invitation to a meeting of the Trap Door Spider’s Society. Lester explained that the Spiders were a men’s eating. drinking and arguing club made up of thirteen old friends. A significant number, I thought. The Spiders were formed in response to one of his friends being henpecked. The men invented the club to get him out of the house once a month. Meetings were hosted in rotation. The host would select the restaurant, wine, and menu. He also had the privilege of inviting one or two guests whom he thought might be interesting to his colleagues. I was flattered and accepted.

During the next three weeks, while I waited for the event, Lester and Judy Lynn initiated me into a fantastic world of science fiction and fantasy — a world I abandoned when I was thirteen. Later we would collaborate on hundreds of science fiction paperback covers and the number one world’s best-selling calendar based upon the works of J.R. Tolkien and illustrated by Tim and Greg Hildebrandt.

My taxi pulled up in front of an unsuspecting Spanish restaurant on West Seventy-second Street. An seemingly obsequious uniformed doorman fawned over other guests while judging me for my long hair, beard, bandanna, black T-shirt , love beads, and safari jacket – the uniform of the art director. A more considerate Maitre D’ escorted me to a private dining room lit by a Marie Theresa chandelier. Waiters carried trays of hors d’oervres and drinks in Baccarat crystal.

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Copytight James Randi

The James Randi Foundation

www.randi.com

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Del Rey, still dressed in stretch knit, enthusiastically introduced me to the other spiders. “Ian Summers. Issac Asimov. Ian Summers. L. Sprague Ducamp. Ian Summers. Martin Gardner.” Ian Summers met eight other luminaries consisting of more writers, editors and the Director of the Hayden Planetarium. I took a drink. Lester introduced me to another guest. “Ian Summers. Jim Randi. The Amazing Randi.” I took another drink. I met Truman Capote the day before. I met Gore Vidal that very afternoon. But these men were heroes from my childhood. Terror welled while I wondered what Lester thought might be interesting about me to this august assembly of luminaries.

Upon conclusion of dessert the waiter gracefully removed the china, poured vintage port, and lit thirteen black candles now dancing in sterling silver candelabra. The formal proceedings commenced. Amazing and I were toasted. Then Issac Asimov explained it was a Spider’s tradition to interrogate their guests. The great man leaned across the table. Bushy mutton chops illuminated by candle light framed him in his own aura. I wanted to run. I tried to make myself small, a skill developed in junior high school.  Surely he would start with Jim Randi. Asimov boomed, “Ian Summers. Why do you exist?”

I took a gulp of sipping port. I was silent. I had not given the question a moments thought in my first thirty-five years. I filibustered for over thirty minutes fearing another question. I felt unworthy to be in the company of such great men. I remember thinking, “Oh my God. Issac Asimov knows my name.” I judged myself for not having the right answers — for not being good enough. I vaguely remember presenting my credentials, my accomplishments, my family and work histories. I worked hard to hold back tears.

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And then, Asimov said, “Thank you Ian. That is enough. Lester will you escort Mr. Summers to the door.”

I realized I had spent most of my life as a human doing; not a human being. I did not know the difference. I tried to do exactly what well-meaning caretakers expected. I guessed at what they wanted. I guessed at what normal was and rebelled against it. I became the son I thought my parents wanted. I failed at becoming the good husband without knowing what that meant. I achieved other people’s goals and consequently I was empty. I was fear based. I would do anything to be seen. I had no idea why I existed or who I was. I kept it all to myself.

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I hear from Nancy Santullo every year or so and each time she nourishes my heart as she does with all the people she touches. Nan makes the world a better place. I want to share Nan and her worthy labor of love with you. Please give generously.

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Hi Ian, How are you? I wanted to share a 5 min film on my work here in the Amazon– Interesting when we did my two days workshop together back in the early 90′s, some of my loves were, clouds, water to name a few… Ya just never know where your workshops will lead people. Know I’d be grateful if you share the film with colleagues and friends, help me raise awareness and funds for this labor of love in union with humanity. I hope you’re well, Lots of love, Nan

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Founder, Nancy Santullo, Manifests Love!
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Nancy Santullo, Founder and Executive Director of House of the Children, first visited Peru in 1999 because of her interest in the medicinal healing properties indigenous to the region.

“What interested me about Peru, was that the indigenous people there still lived so connected to nature. I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of their natural medicines and traditions.” Nancy, a successful freelance fashion and advertising photographer for over fifteen years in Los Angeles, has shot national print campaigns for corporations such as Levi Strauss, Warner Brother Records, Toyota, NBC Television, and Walt Disney Pictures.

Touched by the needs of the children of Peru, Nancy returned three months later with family donations and began working with a small group of homeless street children in Cusco and, later, with a group of native children in the village of Huacaria in the Manu Rain Forest.

As she was helping them Nancy realized, she was no longer looking at these children as poor. Their spirits were rich and their wills strong. She became inspired to support these children from their place of strength.

Nancy’s love of the rainforest drew her back to spend more and more time with the children of Huacaria. Working with the village teacher, she established trust among the children and the villagers. She helped teach basic hygiene practices, and created an art workshop for creative activities, supplying art materials, as well as needed school supplies. The pencil sharpener was a big hit, because the children no longer needed to use their teeth to sharpen their pencil.

The children’s response was immediate and enthusiastic and she soon came to be known by them as “Senorita Nancy!”

Nancy observed that children were drinking contaminated water, suffering from chronic health problems and extremely limited educational opportunities. She also learned there were no organizations in Manu dedicated to creating opportunity for children.

Nancy knew in her heart that she had the capacity to do more and made the decision to focus her efforts on the children of Huacaria. With a small group of supporters, she established House of the Children (HOTC.) HOTC is a grassroots 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to creating support, inspiration and opportunity for indigenous children in the Manu Rain Forest of Southeastern Peru.

Nancy is often asked, “Why Peru, when there are children in America who need our love and attention?” She responds, “When I was guided to work with the children in the rainforest I didn’t really ask ‘Why?’. The children, native cultures, and the rainforest have offered me an opportunity to grow and contribute to life beyond all that I could have ever imagined. ”

“I believe that our lives are interconnected, and that as I help one child, I help all children.”

This is the beginning…
PLEASE join us for the next chapter…

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Visit the House of the Children Website

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