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Letters To The Editor, Late Summer , 2000
Dear Ryan Ramon:
I want to thank you for the article you wrote concerning my "demise". (
Heroes and Hellions, Summer 2000 - editor.)
I was uplifted by your words and I found a smile developing on my face. This is something
that has been absent for nearly three months. I owe you my gratitude.
Indeed I have stepped on many toes in my career. As for my ex wife, I was told we
were legally divorced and it was a great shock to discover otherwise. The media were
unwilling to wait for the results of the investigation, which has now demonstrated
that I never took a dime from my employer They looked for anything they could to
fuel their kerosene journalism tactics.
Thank you sir,
Kimball Lewis
.............
Mr. Ramon replies - Dear Mr. Lewis,
Thank you for your kind words. You have suffered "slings and arrows of outrageous
fortune". May your sun rise bright again for all to see. R.R.
...............
Be sure to visit Kimball's guest column.
Dear Editor,
I witnessed a phenomenal sight this evening. At approximately eight-thirty, at a
fast-food restaurant in Bend, standing in the drive-up lane, a cowboy on his horse.
Just the spectacle of a horse and rider in the drive-through is enough to get anyone's
attention. The fact that it was Kimball Lewis, former Director of The Humane Society
of Central Oregon, was astounding.
Whatever happened to Kimball Lewis? Where has he been these past four months? He
has understandably shunned the public eye and media since the brutal slaying of his
beloved dog and companion, Donner. He has graciously bowed down from the spotlight
and high-profile status that he earned for his career in the field of animal welfare
and protection. But maybe he was brave enough, ready enough, humble enough, to ride
through a public fast-food drive-through for the simple pleasure of ordering a meal
on horseback.
He came and left without fanfare, boxed between vehicles idling; and galloped off
to the west, with the sound of hoofbeats against the asphalt, echoing into the sunset.
This is a scene from a movie. This is surely fodder fit for Hollywood. This is Bend?
In the 1980 film, "The Electric Horseman", Robert Redford gallops off into
the night down the Las Vegas strip. Running from fame and media, astride a famous
horse that has also been used to sell a product and unfairly mistreated in the process.
Simultaneously, Redford has also been misused and exploited. He acknowledges a kinship
with the horse; and therefore by him saving the horse, saves himself, and both are
freed in the end process. Fade out. Music swelling. The stuff that dreams and movies
are only made of.
Witnessing Kimball Lewis riding down the blacktop on his horse took me back to this
film. I have always loved the message of this movie, but never dreamed I would ever
see the day when I would witness a parallel story being played out before my very
eyes.
To anyone interested in Mr. Lewis and his story, I would advise you to rent this
film. It has a strong link to what he has gone through himself, Great fame and notoriety,
sudden and swift scandal, a media feeding frenzy, public humiliation and betrayal,
unverified personal attacks, ugly gossip, resulting in the ruining of a heroic and
honorable career and person. A hero, if you will.
Yes, hero. Kimball Lewis is more than qualified for this title, although these past
months have scavenged his role as one, as I'm sure they've scavenged him as a person.
This makes me hurt for him and makes me angry at what has been done to him.
Because this society is so ready for heroes, and so swift at cutting them down. From
Roosevelt to Marilyn, Elvis to JFK, Diana to Lincoln, we are ready and waiting to
find some fault in another, to dismantle and disgrace them, to make ourselves feel
superior and more deserving, higher and cleaner. We seem to quickly forget their
unique and special gifts, what they have done for us and how eager we were for them
to share it with us. Once there is a possibility that they may have feet of clay,
we anxiously destroy them.
Whatever happened to our heroes? Surely, Kimball Lewis is a local and national treasure.
He deserves credit and acclaim for all his accomplishments. They are FACTS. He does
not deserve credit for hearsay, gossip and ridicule made by unreliable, jealous and
vindictive sources. This is the tragedy. This was the tragedy in "The Electric
Horseman". But there was a happy ending to the film, and I believe there will
be a happy ending for Mr. Lewis. The enigma is in believing. The enigma is in the
fate of trust and understanding. It is in knowing what is good and true and right.
It is in standing up for what you hold dear. Where have all our heroes gone? I was
pleased to see one tonight, traveling his path upright and sure, riding on and carrying
his head high into the night, knowing in his heart that he is right. That makes him
an enigma to all of us.
Ms. Rafael Buckner
Bend, Oregon
...............
Be sure to visit Kimball's guest column.
Dear Editor,
I asked you several questions about the magazine and guidelines....I realized
when I went to the site that it was all there. Should have checked before
asking. Thanks again......only would like to know if magazine is also available in
stores or through mail.
Joe
...............
Editors reply - Dear Joe ,
West By Northwest online magazine is only available online to save production costs
and trees. Maybe in the future we will have limited hard copy but not now.
Hi Editor,
I've just logged on to your new issue, and of course the first thing I
wanted to read was your "Dog's Life"
by M.G. Hudson. It is excellent!!! I found myself
entirely caught up in the story. Just had to send this off even before I
read anything else of the issue.
Thank you,
Linda
Hi Editor,
I am Louise B. from England. I was wondering if you could send me or publish any
additional info about faeries and legends and stuff.
Thanks for your time.
Daer Webmaster and Editor,
Hi! Finally!!!! Yes, you were right! All it was, was that my computer had stored
the last issue in it's cache, so it wasn't going back to the 'Net, even when I typed
in the new address. The reload worked fine! Thanks.
Good issue!!!! I really liked the Summer issue -- esp. Mary
DeDanan's labyrinth (maybe I'll make one in our new garden), the kid's Collie
story, and Ryan Ramon's piece on the father
-- and of course, Pat Gray's story.
I also liked the more political pieces too. The
Right to Know pesticide article, Congressman
Defazio's piece on GMO food, and the ProPaws
article about anti-trapping ballot measure. And more interesting sponsors' banners.
Good job -congratulations on issue number 2! Must get back to work now.
Leah
...............
Webmaster's reply:
Readers, if you are having problems seeing a new issue, try hitting reload or refresh
on your web broswer while at our site.
--The Webmaster
Dear Editor and Ms. DeDanan,
I do not know where I found the link that had your story and pictures....top had
something about Yahoo....maybe I asked a question where to find
labyrinths and up came a list of links and yours was at the top with new on it......,
but I saved it to read later and that was today.......how long ago
was it written.........did you really move and what happened to the labyrinth........that
was such a sad part of your writing.
I walked my lst labyrinth in March at Harmony hill outdoors with rocks and something
happened. Now three months later, I am on a committee to build a permanent one in
Tacoma in a park near two hospitals......wish it were rocks, but it will be brick
pavers.
Anyhow, just wanted to tell you your pictures were great ...esp the ones thru the
season....Good luck on your next labyrinth building...at least it will as a person
who clearly loves it.
Marian
...............
Hi Marian,
Thanks for the kind words about my labyrinth essay. I wrote it in early May, actually.
And yes, I moved in mid-June. I found a place where I can rebuild the labyrinth.
I'm still moving the rocks here, carload by carload. Five carloads so far, about
1/4 of the rocks. Lots to go, still. And a very dirty car! Good luck with your labyrinth
building in the park. Sounds like it will be a very healing place.
Best wishes ,
Mary DeDanan
Dear Editor,
Thanks alot......Just had time for a peek between grandchildren activities......thought
it was done very nicely........no end to what is available on the web, if only you
had more time to look at all this neat stuff.
Proud Grandma in Puget Sound