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DRAGONMOUNT

A WHEEL OF TIME COMMUNITY
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From Harriet


Guest Harriet

19527 views

Dear Everyone,

 

He has gone where pain and suffering are no more.

 

Whenever he was able to be at the computer, he checked the blog first thing. Your e-mails REALLY MATTERED to him. He loved them ... and I think in some sense he loved you all.

 

I never thanked you for all my birthday messages, but I do now. We had a nice party...about a dozen people, ranging in age from 4 months to 82 years, sitting around the dining room table which had been covered with lots of newspaper, picking our own lovely boiled local shrimp, eating corn on the cob and homemade biscuits , and later eating watermelon; a good deal of white wine went down our gullets, too. I should add, no cooking was done by me. My dearest first cousin, also named Harriet (we're both named for her mother), did it all, just about.

 

It was a happy time. Jim made it so.

 

He came like the wind, like the wind touched everything, and like the wind was gone.

 

These are words Jim said to me several books ago, in the weary but always thrilling hours of putting the manuscript to bed, ready to carry to New York in the morning -- I remember grabbing a piece of discarded script and scrawling those words up the margin, because they were so beautiful. He was talking about Rand. I of course am not.

 

I know he touched all of you. Thanks for being there.

 

Here is his final interview, given to the local newspaper. Notice the date:

 

Robert Jordan aims to get back on feet

By Bill Thompson

 

Thursday,September 13, 2007

 

Jim Rigney intends to "keep marching to the horizon." Stage One is getting back on his feet.

 

Known to millions of readers as Robert Jordan, the best-selling author of "The Wheel of Time" fantasy series continues to cross swords with the rare blood disease amyloidosis, a progressive disorder he was first diagnosed with in December 2005 at the Medical University of South Carolina.

 

Subsequently, the author has been undergoing treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

 

Rigney reports that with the help of the Mayo Clinic, he is keeping things under control.

 

"My numbers are still good, in the normal range. We will be going back up to the Mayo in about a month and we'll see what the status is. Now I just have to get my foot healed up so I have a chance of getting out of this wheelchair. Strange to think that my foot, of all things, would be giving me the most trouble. It's getting better, but unfortunately the amyloidosis makes healing go very slowly.

 

"When I get the foot better then I can start on the process of walking again. I hope to do this in another two or three months."

 

While there has been no improvement in heart function and no change in his overall prognosis as of June, Rigney says improvement remains possible. And he's determined.

 

"I've got promises to keep."

 

And he did march, guys. He marched toward that horizon until he crossed it, where we cannot follow yet.

 

The word now, the only possible word, is Onward.

 

Go for it. With love.

 

Consider yourselves hugged.

Harriet

 

108 Comments


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Guest matt layo

Posted

I began reading WOT as a freshman in high school. I have waited more than half my life for the next book, and the next... I don't frequent the boards, and so I just found out about you/our loss. There is a song by a band named Ween about Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead. The title escapes me, but one lyric comes to mind now.

 

 

I never met the man,

but he was a good friend of mine.

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Guest joanna

Posted

Hi

 

I've just checked into the site to see what the latest news is with the final book. What a shock!! Last time I checked the boards here RJ was doing really well on some new drug. Please also accepted my (belated) condolences.

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Guest Tim Chapman

Posted

My heartfelt condolences goes out to you, Harriet, and also to your family. WOT is a magical series and RJ was a magical writer.

 

He is now at peace with our Lord.

 

God bless, Tim :)

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Guest Chris Rolfe

Posted

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I have been a fan of the WOT series since it was started and was looking forward to reading the next book. Bok 12 in the wheel of time series. It saddens me to think of such a fine man passing before it was his time. I guess we never know how short our lives are in this world. I hope you are doing ok. I only ask that his legacy be perserved and the series be completed as a tribute to such a fine author.

 

sincerly

Chris Rolfe

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Guest Kristin Jones

Posted

I learned today of Mr. Jordan's death. What an amazing life he lead - full of so many diverse experiences.

 

Your husband seems to have managed to live more in 58 years than most people who have half again as many years. It is almost as if he knew he was allotted only a 'half glass of time' -- because he filled that half glass 'to the brim'. And in doing so, he shared himself and his gifts with people he never met -- and will continue to touch people who may not even be born yet!

 

Thank you for sharing him with all of us.

 

One thing I want to share: our loved ones never leave us. We are part of them wherever they go and they continue always to be part of us. God bless you and your family.

 

Kris

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Guest Emma Sinare

Posted

I have only just found out about Jordan's death and I'd like share my condolences.

 

This surprises me and saddens me terribly... It also inspires me.

 

I wish you all the best.

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Guest Chris O'Brien

Posted

He brought the Light to places where there was none. Heartfelt condolonces to you and your family. God rest his soul, Chris

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Guest Andre Donders

Posted

Saddened and with a heavy heart reading this just now. I was in the store just this afternoon and thought the last book of the wheel of time will come out this year, let's see when it comes out. And then I see this...

 

Well Harriet and family, friends, heartfelt condolences to you all. RJ was a tremendous fighter to have prolonged it so long, always seeming positive even in his last interview. If only everyone had the same attitude and fight for their lives, this world would be a much better place.

 

Take care and I hope you can gather some measure of strength from these messages.

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Guest Tay Gold

Posted

I hated to hear this news. I always adored Rj and his books. I always wanted to write to him and tell him how his stories inspired my life, and inspired me to keep writing my own. I wish I had.

My condolences to everyone.

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Guest John Clem

Posted

I looked at my wot series as the xmas cards came down, I thought it must be due out soon so I checked and saw the sad, sad news.I add my condolences to those here and wish Harriet and Brandon well in what I am sure will be the most stressful but satisfying year.

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Guest Josh Lutz

Posted

My heart goes out to you. I don't know what I can say that someone else hasn't already but the WOT series has truly affected me and in mysterious ways some events have paralled my life. I wish you the best.

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Guest Benjamin Newsome

Posted

Only just found out! So sorry to hear. I'm a huge fan of fantasy and he was by far the best writer i have ever read and probably will.

 

BN

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Guest Porter Fishburn

Posted

The day after he died i was looking for more information on the twelfth and final book when i came across this horrible news. It has taken me until now to come up with what I hope is the best thing that i can possibly say. I'd like to thank Harriet for that inspiring quote. Like the wind he did touch the lives of millions, he certainly touched mine. I'd like to consider myself Robert Jordan's biggest fan but i know that that is unlikely. Thank you, Harriet for your inspiration on his books.

 

P.S.

When my death is near i will only be anxiously awaiting my chance to meet this wonderful man and inspiring author.

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Guest Sherry Cote

Posted

Dear "Mrs. Jordan" This is coming so long after the fact I feel ashamed to write it but I just today discoved that your husband had passed last year. I send a very heartfelt and sincere wish that time has helped to heal your heart. I was a very big fan of The Wheel of Time series. My Mom bought me the book Spring Dawning and I have been hooked since. They have such depth and emotion it is like experiencing the story first hand. The world lost a master of words when "Robert" passed. Thank you for allowing me to express my love of your late husband work. I pray that his spirit will live on in the stories he has left behind. God Bless. Sherry

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I was dealt a hard blow when I heard that James, (Robert Jordan) found the clearing in the path. I was late finding Jordan's masterful works in the Wheel of Time Series, but I read books 1-11 in a scant two months on the first reading. I am now reading them a second time, trying to be as thorough as I can though I am still breezing through them . It is amazing that a few words in the first book can be such an astounding event five or six thousand pages later. I have read many works of fiction and especially fantasy and I have to say that this is the defeinitive work of its genre. My hat is off to James Rigney, a fellow military man like myself; may the fire of his works burn eternal.

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Guest Adam Knight

Posted

I cannot begin to express in words how deeply touched and saddened I am again at reading this. Your husbands words and work has been a huge inspiration to me and my life. i have been reading since the very beginning and literally grew up on his words. I wish you my love and support now and always, madam.

 

AK

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Guest Richard

Posted

His works helped me escape, unscathed, through a dark period of my life and showed me something beautiful during a time of great hardship.

 

I truly admire his works and will keep a copy of his books on my bookshelf for my children(including the last one).

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Guest CEARIECEP

Posted

Õàé, áûëî î÷åíüïðèêîëüíî âàñ ïî÷èòàòü. òîëüêî âîò îäíîíå î÷åíü õîðîøî Ñïàìåðû äîñòàëè, ó ìåíÿ ó ñàìîãî åñòü ñòðàíè÷êà òàê è íà ïðåìîäåðàöèþ ñòàâèòü âñå ïîñòûíå äåëî, à âîò êàïò÷ó íèêàê íå ìîãó óñòàíîâèòü, íå ïîëó÷àåòñÿ...

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I have been reading the Wheel of Time since Eye of the World came out. My late brother introduced me to the series. I have grown up with the Wheel of Time and every time a new book comes out I have re-read the series. The characters have become a part of my life, and each time I read I become more emotionally involved in the outcome. I have taken to listening to the books on tape recently and must say I like them, although reading it is perhaps the best.

 

Robert Jordan was a phenomenal writer. There was no better. Lord of the Rings, Thomas Covenant... none come close to the brilliance and detail of the world. This is the ultimate story, contained within a realistic world that could have been, and the telling will end without the great man's powerful writing. I am saddened. More than you can know.

 

My brother was the biggest Wheel of Time fan there was. We served in Iraq and Afghanistan, me in the Infantry, him in the Air Force as a pilot. My father was there too. We all survived, only to have my brother's plane crash in the mountains of Albania. I hope that Mr. Rigney and my brother, kindred spirits have met in the next life.

 

Please know that my thoughts are with you Harriet and all of the fans. Like all great men, Mr. Rigney will live on until the end of time... in his case, the legend will never fade.

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Guest lixReerse

Posted

Заметил такую тенденцию, что в блогах поÑвилоÑÑŒ много не адекватных комментариев, не могу понÑÑ‚ÑŒ, Ñто что кто то Ñпамит так? Рзачем, чтоб падлу комуто Ñделать))) Имхо глупо...

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Through Mr Jordans writing, I have walked the roads of the world with Rand, Perrin and Matt. I have seen the strength and the weakness's of the Aes sedai. I have fallen in love, in turn, with Egwene, Min, Elayne, and Aviendha. I have wanted to yank out Nynaeve's braid on several occasions, but would not because she too has found love in my heart. I have felt the rumble of the Dragon Mount, I felt the evil of the forsaken. All the while the Dark ones malice is stirring on the winds for all to feel. Not since Tolkien's Lord of the rings have I felt completely and utterly a part of the story I held within my hands. Immersed deeply in the conflict and in the fun. For this and so much more, Mr Jordan's work shall live on. For this and so much more shall he be missed, but thank the heavens that we can return to visit him whenever we wish by opening one of those books. For, he is the master that spins the Wheel of Time on its axel. It is there that he awaits us. Until the wheels spins round again. Blessings to you all.

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I know that this post comes a little late, but it is heartfelt, i wish my most sincere condolences to Robert Jordan`s family. His writing has made many of our lives better. As for my case it kept me going on several occaisions while i was on mission in afghanistan, it gave me a break of what was happening there, i could take a break from the war through his writing and it kept me sane. I know that many of my fellow soldiers discovered the wheel of time novels through me and it helped them forget the pain and the reality of a war torn country and loosing friends.

 

I can only say one thing... Thank you Robert, your writing has helped save lives, it helped save mine. May you rest in peace.

 

Danny

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