UPDATE ON RICHARD BACH
I know that some of you knew I was once close friends with Richard Bach. Nothing about that changed except for time, distance and circumstances. We passed an occasional email message to each other. There were times of fun and high adventure, but that was long ago.
You may also have heard that he crashed his plane while landing at one of the locations in Puget Sound he loved so well. I flew with him there almost thirty years ago. I thought it was so ironic. At last count, Richard had flown about 150 different aircraft of all kinds and was an extraordinarily careful flyer. I heard he hit some wires while landing.
I had not been able to find out anything about his current condition. Then, a day or so ago, his former wife, Leslie, called after a long absence, and I asked her. What she told me was not good. Richard is clearly brain-damaged, and at 76, in my opinion is not likely to recover very much. Leslie was asked by his present wife if she would come see if she could help him. Apparently, he often screams in pain. Leslie was able to communicate with him which seemed to please him. The accident happened almost three months ago.
The irony is that it was Richard Bach who urged me to write. We mused a few times that, by God, I had bought and read all his books, and he was going to have to buy and read mine.
Another example in my life of waiting too long.
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