It was several years ago when I first saw Van. He was sitting at a table at the Haig-Brown Festival; the table was covered in books, his as well as others. He sat quietly, watching the crowds with his sparkling eyes. I was drawn to the man because of his obvious awareness and sense of self, tho I felt I had nothing to say that could be of interest to him.
After spotting the billboard which advertised himself and his publications, I stopped at the table and thumbed through some of the volumes. We smiled at each other and exchanged greetings. Then I moved on, feeling a bit sheepish at my shyness, scouring my mind for a topic I thought might be of interest to the man I'd heard so much about.
Twenty minutes later, after winding my way through the fair and considering a topic to begin a conversation, I rounded a tent to find him again - in deep conversation with two other men who had sandwiched the beloved Van between them, chairs close in a triangle which did not allow an inquisitive woman like myself to intrude.
Imagine my delight when, in 2009 and in my position as the B&B host at the Haig-Brown House, I had the opportunity to invite Van for breakfast. Guests of the house were doing a report on Roddy, and wanted to interview Van for the article.
He arrived with his long-time friend, newspaper editor Neil Cameron, and the breakfast table was alive with the informative and sharp discussions of salmon, government, environment, and education. This mostly from Van, as clear and evocative as a man thirty years younger than his age of 83. I was enthralled.
Here's a previous post (within this blog) regarding that day:
http://haig-brownhouse.blogspot.com/2009/09/van-egan-cinda-et-al.html
Please find below a link to the Campbell River Courier Islander, where Neil has published several articles on Van Egan.
http://www.canada.com/Friends+colleagues+recall+Egan+soul+conscience+community/3284695/story.html
Let us all raise a glass to this lovely, lovely man. Here's to you, Van.
Sandra
After spotting the billboard which advertised himself and his publications, I stopped at the table and thumbed through some of the volumes. We smiled at each other and exchanged greetings. Then I moved on, feeling a bit sheepish at my shyness, scouring my mind for a topic I thought might be of interest to the man I'd heard so much about.
Twenty minutes later, after winding my way through the fair and considering a topic to begin a conversation, I rounded a tent to find him again - in deep conversation with two other men who had sandwiched the beloved Van between them, chairs close in a triangle which did not allow an inquisitive woman like myself to intrude.
Imagine my delight when, in 2009 and in my position as the B&B host at the Haig-Brown House, I had the opportunity to invite Van for breakfast. Guests of the house were doing a report on Roddy, and wanted to interview Van for the article.
He arrived with his long-time friend, newspaper editor Neil Cameron, and the breakfast table was alive with the informative and sharp discussions of salmon, government, environment, and education. This mostly from Van, as clear and evocative as a man thirty years younger than his age of 83. I was enthralled.
Here's a previous post (within this blog) regarding that day:
http://haig-brownhouse.blogspot.com/2009/09/van-egan-cinda-et-al.html
Please find below a link to the Campbell River Courier Islander, where Neil has published several articles on Van Egan.
http://www.canada.com/Friends+colleagues+recall+Egan+soul+conscience+community/3284695/story.html
Let us all raise a glass to this lovely, lovely man. Here's to you, Van.
Sandra
