BEAUOLOGY 101: THE biggest birthday gift OF ALL

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by beloved Smith

Christmas is just days away. Throughout my life, the month of December has always been my preferred 31 days out of the year. people seem to always be on their finest behavior, or at least something that resembles it. My birthday is on the 17th , as well as as a kid, that indicated pre-Christmas festivities as well as gifts. I was blessed that my “close to Christmas” birthday was always treated with true birthday respect, no skimping, no parental uttering of “It’s as well close to Christmas for a great deal of birthday gifts.” No, sir. I always had a full-throttle birthday demolition derby of chaos, as well as was glad to accept it.

The home would be full of holiday candies, nuts as well as fruit, as well as then that was added to by my birthday cake as well as ice cream. I didn’t even mind institution so much in the month of December since I looked ahead to getting out of it for a lot of of the month for the holidays! That indicated that the time spent in institution was low key, instructors didn’t wanna work that hard, us youngsters didn’t, it was a lot more of a social location to be rather than a location to learn. finest month for school!

That Goofy youngster That Called marvel Comics—Beau Smith

One year for my birthday, my parents asked me what I desired as a gift. I was in the 6th grade. I told them I wished to phone call Stan Lee at marvel Comics as well as speak to him. Sure, they looked at me like I was a bit odd, as well as I was. They tried to talk me into a bike, new G.I. Joes, or a record player, however I wished to speak to Stan Lee, the guy that composed all my preferred comic books.

This went on for a few days, as well as lastly my parents provided in to this nutty request of mine. My mommy hunted as well as discovered the phone number to marvel Comics in new York City. Waaaaay back before the internet, answering machines as well as such, calling somebody, even Stan Lee, wasn’t such a crap shoot.

The huge day came as well as I dialed the long distance phone number. long distance phone calls were a significant offer back in 1960s. I was shocked when it wasn’t Stan Lee that didn’t response the phone. It was a young woman’s voice, extremely friendly, as well as without an accent like mine.

Her name was Flo Steinberg.

The magnificent Flo Sternberg. Marvel’s original Angel.

I kinda understood of her name from reading all my marvel Comics, since Stan would always refer to his “Gal Friday” magnificent Flo”, so I understood I had dialed the ideal number.

I keep in mind she was so extremely friendly to this goofy grade institution youngster from a little town in West Virginia. I told her that it was my birthday as well as my gift from my mommy as well as daddy was getting to phone call Stan Lee. Flo was so great as well as understanding, I mean she went with this kinda thing on a everyday basis. She asked all about me, exactly how old I was, where I went to school, what classes I liked the best, what marvel comics as well as characters were my favorites. It was great to speak to an adult that truly understood about all the stuff I liked, comics.

Finally, I asked her when I might speak to Stan. Again, she was so nice, she explained to me that Stan was composing the current problem of Spider-Man as well as it was truly crucial that he surface it so I would be able to checked out it when it came out.

Stan Lee, Please speak to Me.

I was not upset. I comprehended this totally as well as the last thing I desired was the next problem of Spider-Man to be late. I told her that when I grew up, I was going to compose comic books as well as draw them too. (My art never got extremely far after 9th grade, so I was wise sufficient to provide that part up as well as focus on the writing.)

Flo told me that I truly needed to surface all of my schooling before I tried to be a comic book writer, however to always method as well as compose things ever day. She told me exactly how crucial college was as well as that I must research study difficult to get there. She pointed out that she had graduated from college not as well long ago.

Before our phone call ended, she requested my address, as well as again, wanted me a delighted birthday. I didn’t get to speak to Stan Lee, however I liked Flo Steinberg. She had a truly great voice as well as understood a great deal about comic books, even for a girl! (Remember, it was the 1960s.)

I told a few of my fellow comic book reading friends about it. They believed it was kinda cool, a couple of them though it was a “gyp” that I didn’t get to speak to Stan. (They most likely make snarky comments on the Web these days.)

Two weeks after my phone phone call with Flo, I got a bundle in the mail. Back then a bundle in the mail was a truly huge deal. even a bigger offer when I saw it was from new York City! It had marvel Comics group stamped as the return address.

Make Mine Marvel!!

I opened it up as well as my eyes were as large as my cereal bowl. In the bundle there was a 3 x 5 inch, blue publish card with a note from….. Stan Lee! It was short, however he stated he was sorry that he missed my call, however really hoped I took pleasure in these little “Marvel Trinkets”. There was a Spider-Man sticker, a round Make Mine marvel badge, as well as a truly great hand written note from Flo Steinberg saying thanks to me for calling as well as speaking to her about marvel Comic books. She wanted me the very best with institution as well as composed delighted birthday truly big. My day…. year, was made.

Those products were the crown jewels of my comic book treasures. No matter where life took me from there on, I always had those products with me in my collection of truly special things. In the 1980s when I lastly did ended up being a comic book writer as well as worked as VP of advertising for Eclipse Comics as well as picture Comics, I always had those products on screen in my office a few blocks from The flying Fist Ranch right here in Ceredo, WV.

I’m sorry to state this story has somewhat of a bittersweet ending.

Marvel stickers

I lost those treasured products in the early 1990s when my office building caught terminate as well as burnt down. I lost a great deal of treasured things in that fire; original art, autographs, comic books, as well as much more, however those products sent from Stan as well as Flo were the things I missed as well as continue to miss today.

Not to be a total downer, I recognize that the genuine as well as true treasures are my memories of that special birthday, the generosity as well as thoughtfulness provided to a quirky youngster in the 6th grade from Stan Lee as well as Flo Steinberg.

Let me add that a few years after that I had lunch not once, however twice, with Stan Lee at two conventions both he as well as I were going to . I told him of my birthday story, of course, he had no recollection as well as was sincere sufficient to state so, however he thanked me as well as at the exact same time provided me one more gift by telling me exactly how terrific Flo was as well as some excellent stories of all the work she did at marvel Comics.

So yes, every December is special to me. I believe of Stan as well as particularly of Flo Steinberg on my birthday annually as well as all the generosity that was shown to that comic book loving youngster from Huntington, West Virginia.

Thank you, Stan Lee for inspiring me to be the comic book writer I am as well as have been for the last 30 years.

Thank you, Flo Steinberg for inspiring me to always be kind as well as thoughtful to not only those that like comic books, however to everybody I meet. I believe of you every Decemeber 17th on my birthday.

Merry Christmas, mi amigos as well as amigas!

Beau Smith

The flying Fist Ranch

www.flyingfistranch.com