Michael Murray was one of my favourite people. And I always called him by his first and last name together — always Michael Murray, and never Michael or just Mike. It wasn’t our way.

In April of 2020, he reached out to say he was putting together an online magazine and would I please contribute. Of course I said yes, because he asked me to. I’d do anything for him.

And I sent some essays his way, and he was always so appreciative, and generous with his comments and praise. More than that, he was maybe one of the most encouraging people I’d never met. (It would be more than a whole year before we’d meet for the first time.)

Anyway, it’s really a special talent to shine light beams on others like that.

But somewhere along the pandemic-way I stopped writing almost entirely, and couldn’t seem to find my mojo. He’d ask me for something every issue, but I felt like I had no words in me. I’d write him long paragraphs about how I had nothing to say. 

*blink* 

In trying to come up with words for this Editor’s Note, I went back to our (extremely long) bank of exchanges, which I’ve skimmed in times past for his uplifting, generous bits when I’ve found myself in a crisis of confidence (happens often) but I hadn’t reread our letters in their entirety before now, because those ago-times were so sad for me and for him and for everyone else on the planet, and I wished not to return to those washed out, faded, flattened days… and it still takes some effort to remain cheerful given the state of the world right now. 

Lots of his good words echo and keep me afloat. His light and spirit are a beacon, still.

Showing others what you like, or even love is an act of generosity, and it’s much easier to stay buoyant when you shift your attention to beautiful things — we are better when we consume, look at, talk about what’s good. Be a light beam for others.

I was on a short list of people Michael Murray asked to be guest-editor of his most wondrous Galaxy Brain, and frankly, my knee-jerk reaction was to decline — I’ve been an editor before and learned I don’t really relish the task… but, of course I said yes. Because he asked me to. And I’d do anything for him.

(And truth be told, this was a necessary nudge to get me to sharing again — that in itself is something good.)

So, I invite you to come have a wander around this 27th issue of Galaxy Brain — come see what’s good. It’s a curation of essays and stories, and poems and artwork.

“I think it’s beautiful the way you sparkle when you talk about the things you love.” — Atticus 

I do too. 

Come sit. *pats bench*