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| Volume 1, Number 2 | June/July 1999 |
| Dedication to Jade Williams - Arylon Council |
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For Jade Some halls will always seem more empty now, Echoing with unsung songs. Some places overnight have aged, Weatherd by many seasons of heavy rains. Silence has gathered in the council chamber, The few words falling into it sink heavily as stones, barely troubling the surface. The duskwood doors, remembering her laughter, close. As the evening touches the city skies with amber And the far horizons with shades of jade. Antje Jewel Out of Darkness When darkest night throws its final stony glance across the windswept plain of our soul; When the chill breeze blows, crisp and quick into our ruffled hair; When blood forever stands pooled in our veins, never to flow again; When unspoken words of life remain frozen on our cold, blue lips; How will we be remembered and who will remember us? Jade Williams is a special young woman. She was vibrant, creative, eloquent, humorous and insightful. All the adjectives in the world cannot fully describe her, or how she touched my life. THE AUTHOR: I met Jade as the Arylon Submissions Officer. Her first submission to the city project was a beautiful piece that didn't quite fit into what we call "the Template". It was about two fresh and delightful people: Azrael and Nico. Jade was upset because we couldn't work them into Arylon. I asked if she wanted them to be placed in the Oracle, she then withdrew them all together. I keep copies of everything, or so I thought. I cannot find my old copy of this submission or I would present it. From that day forward, Jade and I spoke on a frequent basis. She would always bluntly ask what I thought about this or that idea and if I thought what she was writing would work within the bounds of Arylon. Everything beyond the initial sub has been wonderful and accepted by the Arylon Project. Even now, posthumous, there are a number of items forthcoming from Jade Williams. As an author, she will NOT "go gently into that good night", her writing was always HER own and has a distinctive flair. THE COUNCILOR: Hmmm, Jade as an internal member of the Arylon Project. I remember we were having a dickens of a time getting people to respond to a Councilor Search. I always liked her writing and I really thought she could lend a special grace to the project. I asked her specifically, in one of our letters, if she would please fill out an application. She did. I also remember her application was the only one we ever received late and actually accepted. When the voting happened, it was a clean sweep in her favor. The voting was done in blind votes. She beat the other applications almost two to one. She became an initiated member of the Council on May 29, 1998. She was a quiet English wallflower for almost two months. Then it happened...Clay Simmons crossed her. The Council was having a debate on city walls. Clay jokingly and sarcastically asked Jade to walk out to the countryside and measure the walls of some nearby castles. One week later, Jade sent in a report detailing plenty of information about medieval walls and keeps. She had done precisely what Clay asked. She also became endeared to Clay at this point. They sparred, verbally for several months thereafter. Jade was not as vociferous as some of us. However, her points were always well-reasoned and directed with a quick mind and a clever turn of phrase. When she felt strongly on an issue there was no swaying her to the other side. When she was unsure, she would tell you and she would always give reasons why. She was an unexpected change for the Council and we were better for having her with us. Her voice is with me whenever I sit at the keyboard, now. I think to myself, "How would Jade see this issue? Would I agree or disagree and why?" Jade as a Councilor was top notch. Her memory will serve to guide us from now to the end of Arylon. THE FRIEND: I have personally been through some really tragic circumstances over the last year. Sometimes I wasn't sure how much longer I could push myself. I don't know how or when Jade became a cherished friend. I don't know how or why I actually began talking to her as a confidante. Somewhere in the midst of communicating we became very close. When I was undergoing cancer treatment Jade was always there with a joke or a sly comment to make me smile. She gave quiet support at times and active support at others. She really sent heartfelt letters of encouragement. She coaxed me to keep going. For this, I will always love her. When my sister was killed and I was dazed and confused, she again helped me get through it. Not for what she said, but for what she didn't say will she always be with me in times of need. When I became frustrated and quick to anger, threatening to quit the project because of a fit of temperament, she sent a simple plea. She told me to remember why I was part of the Council and what I was doing. She forced me to rethink my decision about retiring several times, and even got me to promise I wouldn't leave in a flash of anger. I am ashamed that one of the last things I was doing, when I heard about her death, was one of the few things I promised her I would not...I was quitting (again). For you Jade, I remain and see this through until the end...whenever that may be. I will miss your wit and support. I will miss your friendship. I will miss you. Kimberly Moser Chittlin@aol.com Dedication to Jade: I've been having such a hard time putting my words to paper on this matter. What can I say about Jade? To me Jade, reminded me of Robin Goodfellow. She was a bit of a prankster at times, although it was never meant to hurt, only to amuse people. She loved life and always lived it to the fullest as far as I saw. She was caring about others. If I was in a slump she always wrote to me and tried to cheer me up. Jade's death hit me hard. I was shocked and shed tears over the words I read. Even now, it still is a raw nerve and I think it's going to take a long time to get over it. Part of it is the senseless violence of it all. However, I've dug around on the internet and come up with the following poem - I had to dig to find the actual words but I love this poem and think it would personify how Jade should be remembered, and what she would want us to do. DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE AND WEEP Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there. I did not die. - Author: Unknown Jenn Millington I didn't know Jade really well other than as an author and a council member. Just hadn't really gotten to a personal friendship yet. The things I remember most about Jade was her love of Arylon and the Realms. She was always a great storyteller and her attention to the smallest details was exceptional because it made whatever she chose to write about come to life. She was a wonderful, caring person and everyone has experienced great loss over this senseless tragedy. They say God has a plan for all of us and even if we cannot see it, this fits in with his plan somehow. Jade will definitely be missed by everyone whose life she touched. I am grateful I was included among those people. Linda |