“Lessons from the Lost Corner”

Letting the accumulation of ‘stuff’ pile up for a decade or two definitely has its advantages. Yesterday, continuing my organizational and clean-out frenzy, I ran across a copy of “Lessons from the Lost Corner” Volume II, No. 2, published August 1, 1991. A look inside brought forth a host of long-forgotten memories and, of course, raised a like number of questions – as in, where are the other issues? Did I ever contribute? Or was I not doing much writing then?

The editorial board consisted of Kathleen Boyle, Jon Ducharme, Dick Friedrich and Angela Harris – all of whom I could have surmised except for Jon. Back in 1991 Dick and Angela and Kathleen (now known as Una) were involved in just about every literary activity happening on the beach. Jon’s name came as a surprise. Did I even know him then?

By Heidi Anderson

And the list of contributors! Mind-boggling and, again, full of familiar names – Carolyn Maddux, Jenelle Varila, Patricia Staton Thomas, Jan Bono, Edith Olson, Bob Strachen, Marilyn Casey, Susan Holway, Marion Raney-Oman – and those just for starters. Surprises included both Sarah and Heidi Anderson (how old could they have been then? Still in school?)
And a whole host of others with a familiar ring but I can’t quite bring them to mind.

The artwork throughout is marvelous and there is a double-page spread of Jan’s poetry accompanied by a photographic-quality portrait of her by Sonja May. And on the back inside cover, a crossword puzzle without attribution, though I imagine it was by Kathleen Boyle. I think it was about that period that she was doing crosswords for the Observer.

The cost for a one-year subscription to this “Quarterly Offering of Interest to Those Who Live in &/or Love the Lost Corner was $20. Did I subscribe? I must have. But what happened to the other issues?