An editorial column wherein the "WP" in WaRP shares her distinctive perspective on topics from "Art" to "Zen."
"Hip hip" hooray!
June 21, 2004
Dear Elf Friends,
Some of you who have been with us for a long, long time may remember
editorials or interviews in which Richard and I explained that I was
born with congenital hip dysplasia and that we were going to be doing
things to correct it, bit by bit, over time. My first surgery in 1984
was a big 'un that interrupted the publication of EQ magazine for
quite a few months while I recovered. Other surgeries followed,
culminating in the replacement of my left hip in 1991. This past
weekend my long and lesson-filled relationship with arthritis ended
quite happily as I went fully "bionic." After an extremely successful
procedure - that took only an hour and a half! - I'm already home
from the hospital and doing fine.
It's only been three days, but I'm independently mobile, using only
my cane to get about. I have the kind of surgeon who believes in
pushing yourself, so no coddling for the next couple of weeks.
Richard, who has been there for me every step of the way, and I will
be taking lots of muscle-strengthening walks until the cane is a
thing of the past. I may never jog a mile or jump rope or get into
parachute diving, but there's nothing wrong with gliding through
life, is there? I know some very contented elves who do it all the
time!
We read each and every one of your thoughtful get-well messages and
appreciated them deeply. Some of you expressed sorrow that I had to
go through pain but, honestly, don't give it a thought. This is the
easiest surgery that I've had. I truly believe that positive thoughts
have power, and since this operation went so well, I'm thinking the
love and light that you - as well as friends and family - sent has a
lot to do with why I'm home so soon. So thank you very much indeed!
DC comics has been very cooperative in adjusting their publishing
schedule around my recovery. Nevertheless, our editor extraordinaire
Bob Greenberger is already noodging about deadlines. Today he called
with well-wishes and to let us know that Grand Quest Volume Three is
out and should be appearing in bookstores and comic shops any day.
These volumes are selling very well which means somebody's buying 'em
- hopefully that next, new generation of readers we've been looking
to pull in! But Richard and I have in no way forgotten you longtime
EQ fans; we would love to hear what think about this new manga-style
format. To us it's a fresh look at the characters and story at a pace
that enables us to focus on scenes that originally got a bit glossed
over. I'm finishing up Grand Quest Volume Four, the most complicated
manga-izing job yet, and am startled by how much more menacing
Winnowill is when she gets more close-ups!
"Searcher and the Sword" will be out, of course, in time for this
summer's San Diego Comic-Con and we're very eager to share this new
Elfquest tale with you. Richard and I will be attending the con and
signing as many copies of S&TS as you bring us. Look for us at the DC
booth, just like last year. And maybe, at some point, a bunch of us
can sneak upstairs to the food court for some EQ fun and chat. I've
always wanted to do that, rather than set up a formal panel.
Well, my "sitting time's" up - gotta get up and move around. Rejoice
for me, kitlings. All's well here and just getting better by the
minute!
Love,
Elfmom
