by goodbye Joe & Heidi
Joe Hyam, 20.9.1933 – 10.3.2014 and Heidi Rudloff Bush, 28.6.1938 – 22.12.2013
Saddened by the passing of Heidi just before Christmas, then Joe Hyam of Now’s the Time so soon after his wife, I have been without words. Many others have written about them and their friendship more eloquently than I ever could and I nod to them – please see links below.
I delved into our UK 2009 travel photos and found a precious few of our wonderful but short visit to Tunbridge Wells. Joe is well-known I think for being rather camera shy but Fred sneaked this quick shot in his beloved study just before we headed out for a walk in the town. (I tried to remove my image but it only spoiled the background.) I wrote back then about goodbyes, preferring the less final näkemiin or auf wiedersehn. It truly is now a goodbye while that day is even more precious a memory.
Lucy of Box Elder, a most eloquent and prolific writer, friend and collaborator with Joe on Compasses wrote these:
– a hauntingly beautiful poem on the loss of Heidi
– how she met Joe thanks to onions and about her scheme to go to Joe’s memorial
– about the trip and the memorial, along with links to others
Roderick Robinson of Tone Deaf, who has known Joe for decades, wrote several times:
– the first notice that I saw about Joe’s passing, a tribute to their long friendship, and more
– the day of the memorial
– He and his wife also attended Heidi’s memorial but I was unable to find the link about it. If Robbie reads this, perhaps he’ll send it in a comment below.
The Crow wrote a touching goodbye which reflects so well the amazing connections and friendships that come through this blogging medium and which I also feel deeply.
Added May 3, 2014: Joe’s brother Ken aka Lucas of Pomesonpoets has written a poignantly beautiful poem: A Ballad for Joe and Heidi.
April 1, 2014 in Blogging, Other artists by Marja-Leena
Oh, I was glad Lucy could go to the memorial service. Lovely to collect these things in once place. Hugs!
Marly, I’m glad too so I could live it through her eyes, and pleased to have the collected memories here. Hugs appreciated!
So sad when blogger friends depart.
Hattie, yes, very sad.
Oh thank you Marja-Leena dear, you were often mentioned, and I’m so glad you didn’t photoshop yourslef out of that picture!
(And thanks for that link to the moth poem too, which I didn’t dedicate but who knew, knew, including Joe)
Lucy, my greatest thanks to you for introducing Joe and for these posts you wrote and let me share here. Yes I knew who was in your thoughts when you wrote that poem. How you must miss your dear friend.
I think all of us know the good reasons for which we were brought together.
I envy you for the special memories you have. So much joy to be seen in this photo. Thank you Marja-Leena for sharing.
Thank you, Ellena, I am grateful for the memories.
Today we received a letter from an old friend – her husband recently passed away, not long after retiring, sigh.
I fear my post took in rather more than Heidi’s funeral service. Anyway, here it is I full
http://ldptonedeaf.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/a-goodbye-and-hug.html
Thank you, Robbie for this and for all you wrote from your heart. I remember our meeting you and R for lunch in London during that visit in ’09.
I miss Joe’s daily posts so much and am sorry I never had the chance to meet him and his dear wife, Heidi. Thank you for this wonderful photo, dear Marja-Leena. I am so happy that I had the chance to read Joe’s posts and poems and see Heidi’s drawings that he posted on his blog. My gratitude was posted at: http://5fingerplatz.blogspot.com/2014/03/crocus-vernus.html
I really am grateful for the music of his words and his attention to the here and now. I learned so much from him.
Dear R, I did see that lovely post, probably in the middle of the night and forgot to come back and comment. Isn’t it amazing, this network of friends/bloggers that came together at Joe’s. I miss him and his daily three good things and his visits here!
As often seems to be the way in the world it appears Joe Hyam’s path and mine only crossed at a couple of blogs (yours and Martha’s) we both visited. Although I’d already read the tributes left by the Crow and Roderick Robinson I hadn’t seen more until this evening. That he and his wife had made such deep friendships throughout their lives, and eventually through this medium, Is very moving.
Thank you for writing such a lovely memorial and for posting this very delightful picture.
Susan, thanks for your kind words as always! Yes, paths cross everywhere n this blog world, some we follow further from these comments… it’s a great network of voices.
Marja-Leena thanks for the photo, it’s lovely of the three of you, and Joe’s face looks a lot like two faces I know well – one of which was my father. I almost feel I did know Joe through reading all the posts you mention and feeling the warmth that comes through them.
I often think it’s a shame one can’t hold a funeral-rehearsal before one dies so that one could enjoy seeing all one’s friends and family gathered together and hearing their praise and anecdotes and memories of one’s self. If we’re dead, we’ll never know what it was like!
Natalie, I’m glad you like the photo and especially to have Joe’s face remind you of your father!
In my other, child-like mind, I like to think the spirits or ghosts of the recently dead are able to be “present” at their wake. A comforting thought, that is all. I’m not sure I’d care for such a rehearsal though.
So sad to have to say goodbye to blog friends — and I don’t want to take that thought any farther! I’ve been moved by what you, Robbie, Tom and Lucy have written about Joe. I will miss him, too.
Beth, so you knew Joe’s blog too – what a circle we all made! I think we all miss him terribly.