Encounter with an author, his typewriter and a field

Legend has it

Regarding “What I learned at the last book sale of a writing legend,” (A15, March 27): I met Larry McMurtry in 1968. I was driving down Texas 6 between where I-10 is now and Westheimer. I was going south on Texas 6. I notice this man in the field who was typing on a typewriter. So I got out of my pickup and approached the man in the field. McMurtry and I are about the same age. I think in the paper it said he was 84. Well I will be 80 this Easter Sunday. I asked the man what he was doing. He said he was writing a novel. Then I asked him what his name was, and he said Larry McMurtry. At the time I didn’t think much of the encounter. We shook hands and that was it. Heck, could he have been writing “Lonesome Dove”? A true story.

Carl J. Schiro, Houston

Stand by June

Regarding “Our most fundamental right is at stake,” (A13, March 22): I am a white woman, 89 years old. I have voted in every major election since I was eligible. In the last presidential election I elected to vote absentee for the first time. COVID was raging, and I thought it would be safer. With my daughter’s help, I requested an absentee ballot which was sent to me in good time. After filling it in, I decided it may not be safe to mail it back because of problems with the U.S. Postal Service, so I elected to put it into a voting box. After much investigation, I realized there was only one box in Fort Bend County, and it was 8 miles away. My daughter drove me there where we were instructed that the box was in a building. We parked and, with the help of a walker, went inside. There I had to produce my driver’s license, wait while the lady behind the table looked me up, sign my name in a book and then I could put my ballot in the small box sitting on the table. It took me several hours and so much for COVID precautions. To those who are trying to make voting harder, I hope you understand that no matter what you do, I will always vote, and so many millions of others stand beside me.

June Brandt, Richmond