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RUBYWHY
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1994-03-05
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64 lines
WHY "RUBY'S PEARLS?"
I remember warm summer nights in the days when air
conditioning was to be found at the drugstore, and windows
were left open, with fans turned on high. I remember cold
winter nights when a space heater warmed the house, and I ran
to a cold bed to be followed by my parent, carrying a blanket
warm from the heater, which was then wrapped tightly around
me. And I remember drifting off to sleep to the radio sounds
of Burns & Allen, Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy, Fibber
McGee & Molly, The Shadow, and, my all-time favorite, Amos 'N
Andy.
Either Amos or Andy was married to Saphire, (which was
pronounced Saff-eye-uh). The other continually asked, (I
assume referencing a former paramour), "Do de name Ruby
Bee-goan-yuh strike a familiuh kaw-uhd?"
Always, since first I can remember, I wrote, ...poems,
short stories, articles, letters; never dreaming that one day
I would do it for money.
When finally I broke into the field of journalism, I
fell in love. I was extremely lucky, going from general
Assignment, to business reporter, news editor, and then
publisher of my own weekly, before striking out as a freelance
writer. I used the two Florida Press Awards I was blessed to
win along the way to firmly launch my freelance writing
career.
Always, always, however, I dreamed of having my own
humor column. As news editor I had one, but I wanted one with
a name.
In my own weekly, I had one, and chose the name I'd
decided on those long years ago, without even knowing I'd made
a choice. That name, of course, was Ruby Begonia.
Ruby Begonia. Something about the name *does* strike a
familiuh kaw-uhd, and takes me on a journey into the past. It
warms my heart, like that blanket warmed my toes. I can't
explain it, I only know I feel it.
When I closed my paper, I expected to never have
another newspaper column. And perhaps that will be the case.
So, when I decided to launch this electronic short fiction
magazine, the name was never in question.
So many have asked me about the unusual name of this
elecmag. Why "Ruby's Pearls?" they ask, and this is why.
I may never have that column again. But I'll always
have "Ruby's Pearls."
Del Freeman, Editor
Ruby's Pearls is dedicated to electronic publishing, and is
otherwise published only once yearly, in hard copy format.
That publication is limited, and is distributed only to the
authors whose works appears therein, representing a 'best of'.
Those volumes number two to date, and are entitled "A Single
Strand of Perfect Pearls" (1991-92, and "A Double Strand of
Perfect Pearls" (1992-93). Costs of such reproduction and
distribution are borne solely by the editor and publisher of
Ruby's Pearls, and are not intended to violate the Ruby's
Pearls logo: "Do more than hug a tree. Save its life -- read
Ruby's Pearls." The yearly 'best of' anthology is intended as
a thank you to the authors who contribute their efforts
throughout each year to make Ruby's Pearls the consistent
award-winning elecmag it has proven itself to be.
3/5/94