Such a beautiful and evocative poem. I’m sure Joelle will be missed. May her memory be a blessing.
On Wed, Jul 13, 2022 at 10:38 PM Michael Herman <[email protected]> wrote: > Sad news out of Shelton, Washington, from Joelle's husband Paul. > > For those who didn't know her, Joelle was one of the rocks in the > foundation of Open Space in the world and certainly my own OS practice. A > mischievous curiosity, quiet generosity and powerful spirit. I'm otherwise > out of words at the moment, but passing this on for the others here who > will want this news and might add some more about Joelle. > > See also, below Paul's message, one of Joelle's poems that resonated on > the OSlist years ago, 2003 (not one second out of date today!), found when > I searched the archives for "joelle poem" (what else?!). > > Michael > > ---- > > To our family, friends and acquaintances--- > > On July 6, 2022 at 1:10 AM, while I am holding her hand, my wife of 60 > years died (Parkinson's disease and dementia). There is a new star in the > firmament. Joelle Lyons Everett graduated high school 4.0, Valedictorian > and won a National Merit Scholarship. Fortunately for me, she chose the > University of Washington where we met. We married August 26, 1961. We > were blessed with four sons, Aaron, Hugh, John and David, 8 grandchildren > and two great grandchildren. > > We have had a strong and interesting life together. Several foreign > adventures as well as exploring the United States and Canada. Two > particular activities/interests helped glue us together when the inevitable > bumps in the road occurred. The first "glue" were two academic years of > evening classes at Seattle U, a Jesuit University. We studied why we think > as we do (our philosophies-led by Fr. Toulouse) and the psychology of the > being human (led by Ed Maher). We read and discussed many books. It was a > two-hour drive one way from Shelton, WA to Seattle, WA and back. *Deep > discussions coming and going.* > > The second "glue" was the Creative Problem Solving Institute that usually > met in Buffalo, NY. A June week of learning and leadership that sometimes > included one or more of our children. We both taught Springboard and > Extending sessions as well as attending many sessions of interest by strong > thinkers and doers. *More deep discussions.* > > So, for the next several months, maybe a year, I will be involved in > re-orienting my life. I do have help from Sons and others. I am writing > this in the hope that many friends and acquaintances will see it and pass > it on to those whom they know would want to know of Joelle's passing. > > Many blessings, > > J. Paul Everett; [email protected] > > > ---- > > I'm breathing the smoke > > of gunshots, mortars, missiles, > > and oil wells burning. > > I'm stirring in the night, > > hearing children crying > and mothers keening. > > The soft spring breeze > > has the grit of desert sandstorm. > > The night sky is torn by explosives, > > cut by the arc of a missile. > > There's no place far enough > > to put my heart at ease. > > > Can I buy another chance? > > > I want to refuse to take sides. > > I want to imagine a world > > more spacious and more intimate. > > I want the courage to buy > > homes and meals and schoolbooks > > instead of guns and tanks > > . > > I want to be peace, wild and fierce and sweet. > > April, 2003 > > Joelle Lyons Everett > > > -- > > Michael Herman > Michael Herman Associates > 312-280-7838 (mobile) > > MichaelHerman.com > OpenSpaceWorld.org > > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >
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