09/19/2024
I didn’t truly understand the healing power of closure until recently, when part of our family gathered for a small, intimate memorial for Joseph Simonet. Each of us, in our own way, found solace in that moment, driven by different needs, yet all anchored by the same deep love and remembrance.
Joseph had always wanted his ashes spread across the magical hills surrounding Chelan, and fulfilling that wish felt like honoring not only his memory but also the passage of time itself. Returning to their childhood home, Josie and Joey experienced something bittersweet. Where once the lone pine tree stood as a silent witness to their past, houses now rise—reminders that time moves forward, whether we are ready for it or not. That pine, a symbol for so many of us, was once the heart of daily hikes and the grounding force of the legendary ‘1000 punch run’ during Wind and Rock’s Black Belt test.
We sat in that space, now both familiar and changed, and played 'Dust in the Wind,' the song Joseph always envisioned for this moment. And, naturally, Joni Mitchell followed, her voice a companion to Joseph throughout his life. He often said, "Joni raised me," finding in her lyrics a kind of home that shaped him deeply.
As we sat in reflection, a red-tailed hawk soared above us, and in that moment, we understood—we felt Joseph’s presence, his quiet affirmation, "I’m here, I love you forever.” Farewell, Joseph. Your spirit and legacy lives on in your children, in the memories we hold, and in the love that will always remain.
