joanna settle

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Permalink Reply by Sebastian Junger on June 26, 2011 at 4:45pm

Hi Susanne - 

 

What a pleasure to hear from someone who knew Ellis and Joanna. I met them at 18 as well and was close to them for the rest of their lives. They affected me very profoundly - and continue to. My good friend John Vaillant was also part of their small circle, and he went on to write two wonderful books: The Tiger, and The Golden Spruce. I believe he talks about that quite a bit in his acknowledgements in Tiger.

 

Where did you meet them?

 

Best wishes to you and your husband - 

 

Sebastian

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Permalink Reply by susanne siwek on July 3, 2011 at 9:29am

i met them in grand ledge, michigan.  my boyfriend was being tutored by ellis. he introduced me to them. later when he was killed in an accident everyone who loved him and loved the settles gathered at their home. i went away to school and lost track of them.

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Permalink Reply by Sebastian Junger on July 5, 2011 at 11:54am

Hi there...was your boyfriend a boxer? I remember Ellis talking about a young man who was a promising boxer who died in a car accident. The death still seemed to trouble Ellis many decades later. I know they ran the Orchard School there...

 

Again, its so nice to hear from someone who knew Ellis and Joanna.

 

Take care - 

 

Sebastian

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Permalink Reply by susanne siwek on July 5, 2011 at 12:26pm

yes he was. he was also a promising writer. it took some time to move on from his loss.  now i am dealing with the loss of my husband of 43 yrs.  this time i have our 4 sons and their families to help me.  i don't know if you are interested in
vets who were exposed to agent orange and developed cancer and parkinson's disease later in life.  my husband had brain cancer and parkinson's.  he was exposed to agent orange during the war.  it is hard to get information that is not biased.  i have no desire to sue the government but i just would like to know how many vets suffer from kthe same maladies. i have had more luck online getting information about the people of vietnam and how exposure to agent orange has affected them.  i also would like to say that a soldier never changes, nude pin ups, stray dogs and lots of swearing!  i learned from your book why my husband was always more comfortable with his male friends.  he seemed to  need that camaraderie even after so many years.  he was a good husband, father and provider, but he loved the competition and companionship of his pals.
Sebastian Junger said:

Hi there...was your boyfriend a boxer? I remember Ellis talking about a young man who was a promising boxer who died in a car accident. The death still seemed to trouble Ellis many decades later. I know they ran the Orchard School there...

 

Again, its so nice to hear from someone who knew Ellis and Joanna.

 

Take care - 

 

Sebastian

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