Letter from the Editor

A Personal Confession of sorts…

I’m writing this to you all and asking Anthony to post this independently of our next issue of Parma Nölé for several reasons.  It serves as a bit of clarification on some things that have happened on a personal level, and a bit of news on the societal level. I’m also writing because, fundamentally, I’m so grateful and so lucky that I can write at all.  As you all know me, I am an honest, aboveboard person—almost to a fault.  So I will be sharing something very personal for me, but most things in my life are personal. I ask your indulgence, by way of explanation –for both where Anthony & I’ve been, why we dropped out of sight toward the end of the year, and why we missed our January 3^rd toast for the first time in what seems like forever.

Anthony & I knew 2007 was a tough year, but we didn’t know that in some ways 2008 was tougher.  It’s our hope, and the hope of millions, that 2009 will be better, brighter, and full.  I can’t say that we necessarily hope for change—because the world changes each and every day; every millisecond is a change, and not all change is for the greater good.  War is change and death is change and taking in a new breath is change. But, we do need things –for everyone—to move in a more positive direction. We need to feel empowered, as a people and on the individual level as well. 

2008, for me personally was a year of great accomplishment, great sadness, and an even greater appreciation for life.  The year began and ended with a focus on employment.  I found myself unemployed for the better part of the year, finally earned my Masters degree, and with the luck of the Goddess, the Irish, and the persistence of being a person who doesn’t take “no” to heart; I was hired as an Adjunct Lecturer by the College of Staten Island.  With the help of so many, we brought our society back from the brink with the NETS calendar.  2008 also saw the last print copy of the journal and the first PDF version of our beloved Parma Nölé.  For the first time in more than 6 years, I wrote a story—still unfinished, but at least I began it.  And then something more than unexpected happened—something truly unbelievable, and I am a person who believes a lot.  I suffered what can only be called a mini-stroke.  

It was little more than a week before Thanksgiving.  I was still marveling at our nation’s insurmountable chutzpah and unmitigated brilliance in electing our new President, having the first weekend to myself without papers to grade or student emails to plow through, and folding laundry while watching the Obamas on 60 Minutes.  To be honest, I don’t know what happened.  One minute I was laughing at the Obamas’ exchange about battered clothes and a car with a hole in the bottom, the next, I was doubled over, in what’s got to be the most pain I’ve ever felt in my entire life, surrounded by toppling mathoms of laundry. 

I’ve never been good with doctors.  I go, when I feel it’s necessary.  I’m much better at ignoring my own ailments and making sure those around me are healthy.  I can tell my mother to go get checked-out, or tell my husband, but I don’t take my own advice—partially out of obstinacy, partially out of pauperism and the fear that I’ll wind up like those poor folks in Michael Moore’s Sicko, having my health insurance decide to drop me for being too costly. 

After about a half hour of trying to reach my cell phone, which sat maybe an arm’s length from me, trying to remember what it was called and how to make it work, I called Anthony at work and he teased me for drinking without him.  My speech was slurred, and he told me later that I wasn’t making much sense.  I don’t remember what I told him, or what I did really, except that I found myself unable to walk without dragging my right side—which wouldn’t respond properly.  I wouldn’t let him come home early, not that it would have done much good since it was just about time for him to come home anyway and with his commute, he’s already 2 hours away.  My brother who lives next door wasn’t home, and I didn’t actually think of going to the hospital myself.  The time between when I called Anthony, when he came home, and when I went to the hospital the following morning, are a blur.  In fact my memory from that entire week, and indeed my short-term memory in general are what’s been affected.

Greetings Everyone!

It has been  some time since our last update, and a few things have transpired since late October/early November 2008 that have kept us away from society endeavors & projects. For this we apologize to all our readers, but as the sole operators of the society, website,  & journal, personal issues take priority when they arise. 

First, Jessica, my beloved wife, best friend, co-chair for NETS was hospitalized for a bit, and is still recovering from the issues for which she was admitted. She will be writing a special "Letter from the Editor" for the forthcoming issue of Parma Nölé in which this will be detailed.  She is very grateful to those who sent her well wishes; as it stands, we did not tell many folks, but are again thankful for those who expressed their prayers etc.  Subsequently, during the time of Jessica's illness, our PC decided to crash and not recover.  We ordered a new one, but with the holidays, it was not delivered until little less than a week ago.  All our society and personal files are still on the old PC and we are still working to get them recovered. 

We have since created a Facebook page for The Northeast Tolkien Society; over time, this may become the main source of all things Heren Istarion. There are a few reasons for this; primarily, it will alleviate some of the programming technicalities that have occured with this website.  Plus, Jessica and others will find it easier to post and update from the Facebook page.  We will still host our journal, contests, and Yahoo group, but for overall ease, this is where our online presence it leaning toward.

Ok-- a little backtracking... now September through November 2008, we were hosting a contest for folks to win some great  prizes. In that contest folks had a chance to purchase our 2009 calendar and win four great titles:

Tales from the Perilous Realm, The Children of Hurin (pb), and John Rateliff's two volume History of the Hobbit set

We also included a two question essay contest for two titles, Tales from the Perilous Realm, and The Children of Hurin (pb)

We are happy to announce the winners of these contests, and below are quick snippets of the essays we selected to win, which will be published in full in a forthcoming issue of Parma Nölé

 THE WINNER OF THE FOUR BOOK PRIZE IS:

                         ANDREW WELLS of BEDFORDSHIRE,UK

THE ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS ARE:

1st Place: Namiko Hitotsubashi

Tolkien gave me the key, as the Anglo-Saxons say, to ‘word-horde unleac’ or ‘unlock the word-horde’ of late Celtic and early Medieval English history, mythology and literature, and woke the desire to know more of the places, people and events that inspired The Lord of the Rings

2nd Place: Pieter Collier

Tolkien's works have inspired me on many occasions. Of all tales Leaf by Niggle is probably the one I best connect to. Probably because I'm very much like Niggle myself, always having too large a task in front of me and never finding enough time to finish it.

3rd Place: Mary McCann

Tolkien's work, in particular The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, are, unlike most things in this world, all about me.
I respond to Tolkien's writing on a very personal level and when I read the books, I can always have the book I want: a social commentary, a story of friendship, a hero story, or if I just want a story with a dragon. There are so many different ways to interpret the work.

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To close, for those who may not know, the 2009 NETS calendar has been printed in a strict limited run of 100--and is ready to ship. So get your collectable copy NOW before they're gone-- and once they're gone, there will be NO MORE printed. Ever. This year's calendar features cover art & sketches from our great friend & inspiration, Jef Murray. We're also, in keeping true to the intent of earlier Tolkien calendars, keeping the artwork to artists that may not be household names. Our concept designer & calendar guru Phil Goss found two artists who have intrigued many in the Tolkien & fantasy world-- Catherine Chmiel and Colin Williams. For more information about ordering, please visit our calendar page.