When a child goes to bed a crack is often left open at the door. Just enough to be sure the world hasn’t slipped out through the redeeming sliver of light. It strengthens imagination, and lends pretense to wonder. Knowing it will reappear not long after the crack of dawn is often the discerning privilege of parenthood.
A service to imagination is something that grows with all of us. It takes a place outside the home even as it lets in an edge of light. A part of the retiring personality of G.D. Maxwell is owed a little of that pleasure from any who might now recall better of the community of Whistler as a whole, through their own door.
Not just because there was a voice on the other side, but instead as there were others beside that voice, and a sense of the commonplace made less ordinary and therefore within conversation. Canadians might take too much pride in silence otherwise, and in having the mark of that privilege sustained by apology, but to know cause is to see effect and so we are better off in having the chance to read so thoroughly from the prospect a writer offers.
His challenge was our wonder, and those who were his readers will as much beckon to any apprentice at thought over a growing sense of what will make future issues of Pique. Being an understudy is never what an actor intends to be on the whole, but when it comes to thinking and writing most welcome the role of interpretation to their own voice. Character is often a pledge to distinguish ourselves from those who we see most hospitably on that occasion.
It is with congratulations Mr. Maxwell deserves much acclaim to his persistent guarantee of character. He has given much of it to the community. Not so silently. Whomever may step up has some big shoes to fill. Yet the crack in the door is open, and it will surely hold some appeal.
Most will continue to be readers as they are want of a visit through that sliver of hope we call authorship. One of the advantages of maturity comes with the opportunity to hear many voices through a lifetime, and these are not so many in smaller communities, or perhaps they are more. As luck would have it, Maxwell stepped up and assured 29 years of companionship. He will be sincerely remembered, as he now takes to a full sense of relief from the pages he persevered to fill.
