DONATE THRU PAYPAL

I try to do this on my own even when I go into debt for a year after returning from my CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER tours-(5 years 11 tours-> 68000 miles thru 46 States. $5.00 will pay for a gallon of gas--30 miles down the road. Help us find Brittany's killer. Please help us to be able to teach people about laws that put our loved ones at risk. WHAT IF THIS WAS YOUR DAUGHTER?
Showing posts with label murder. mystery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label murder. mystery. Show all posts

Monday, September 22, 2014

10 YEARS, THOUSAND TEARS, STILL TRY TO HAVE HOPE AMID THE SILENCE

In Atlanta. 3rd city to not have any bites at coverage...
........trying to keep the face.
Heading to downtown Atlanta now. I hope a
few people have it in their hearts to try to
email national. With so few stories on this
12th CARAVAN, National is needed more
than ever as we head to the 10th anniversary
with never having a national voice except
mine. And I get tired, run out of money and
sometimes, yes, run out of hope. I can't always
be that strong mother who can handle anything.
Please don't tell me I have done enough, please.....
that does not make me feel better, that doesn't
matter. Her murder deserves to be solved and
laws need to be changed so we stop losing all
these beautiful young girls. This  shouldn't be such a lonely path.....

 
I know its not in vain. It is just selfishly, after all the sh*** I went through with the transmission last year, then the banker from hell almost costing me the house, then the pipes bursting and the car going bad again and it being the 10th anniversary with no suspects matching our DNA and the CARAVAN tours only occurring bonce a year and 1 week of 3 is now through, I am selfishly feeling "Aw come on, don't I get to get at least 1 touchdown.......... I always go on but you know how the years were at DOC. A decade is almost harder than the murder to take because it becomes , realistically so, a solitary path. I just really really needed this to be a good CARAVAN or at least to have NAtional do a story. I have sent 100 emails to the regional city stations and probably about 30 to national. I haven't heard if anyone else is sending national queries about me soooooo. But I am a bobo doll (the clown blowup dolls with the sand in the bottom, you hit them and they fall sideways to the floor but bounce back up...problem is leaks occur........... Thanks guys for your support.

Friday, September 19, 2014

HUSH A BYE DON'T YOU CRY...I WILL TRY.......................................

2.5 days in Dallas--no stories 2.5 days in Shreveport 2 stories--Thanks Shreveport for starting the 12th CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER tour on such a great note!!! --2.5 days in Baton Rouge/New Orleans no stories --Now in Mobile and no contact yet. Have sent more than 100 emails out total. Calls in the past have never worked.


I hoped stories would pick up this CARAVAN after last year’s transmission death shortened CARAVAN. Please, if you see the pink/purple CARAVAN Cube with pictures of my daughter, CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER on all sides and a profile of her killer on the back, it would be such a gift if some of you would let national news know you saw us driving down the road.


Why is national important? Passing out flyers on street corners helped in the first year after her murder. Yet as crime scene DNA comparisons grew to 800 suspects' with no matches, I had to do more, get her story beyond Tulsa. In addition, a parent losing a child births a cavern inside of their heart, fearing its implosion at any second. Doing something for them, in honor of them helps carry the grief.


Thus, I created the CARAVAN TO CATCHA KILLER tours. The tours attempted to help find her killer through news stories and educate communities about DNA at Conviction (DNA doesn’t mean a person is guilty, it leads to the guilty) or not funding a DNA at Arrest law, leaves women and children unsafe, because the main crimes that go unsolved without DNA are the violent ones of which 90 % of the victims are women and 9% children. Unsolved and the perpetrator continuing to harm In the last 4 years,


Tulsa detectives have now compared her killer's DNA to almost 3000 regional suspects and at least half a million in CODIS without a match (increasing the likelihood her killer could have moved on.) This increases the need for a national story. But my requests go unanswered.


Thus, I keep trying to do CARAVANs. 7 years mostly self-funded. I don’t ask friends or family for money. I've covered 100000 miles across 46 states and have been gifted 128 stories within 120 cities, all treating her story as the "girl next door". I am 59. In 7 years, I have only covered 1/10000 of what national news would. At this rate, I would be 100 before I could even match half of what national would.


Gazing upon Brittany's smile each day as I step into my car, does, at times, have me tell her story through a veil of tears. Her loss, the hollowing part of my heartbeat has not destroyed me. I know people now know her story across the US. I know together, we will diminish the number of families facing this horror. I know my petite, curly headed Britty, my dancing pony princess, her long blond curls framing her angelic face, that with her intense dark brown eyes, she reaches from the sides of my car and she pleads, "Listen to my story, help stop my killer and together also save other daughters." It breaks my heart that right now, it doesn’t feel like anyone is hearing………..

Sunday, August 3, 2014

10 years......How can it be a decade

Within a few months, I face the 10th anniversary of Brittany's murder. Hopefully, the 12th CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER tour will begin mid September. Yet like 7 years out of the last 10, this year right before the anniversary and a CARAVAN, car problems and house pipe problems, may impac the funds to be used for the CARAVAN. Since 2007 I’ve completed 11 tours in my pink/purple "wrapped" CUBE with pictures of Brittany embedded on the butterflied background (raped/suffocated Tulsa 9/27/04), CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER on all sides and profile of killer on the back.


As I face a decade since her murder, behind me are 100000 miles travelled across 46 states where 126 reporters gifted us with stories about Brittany’s murder mystery, helping us ask for tips and, more so, to educate communities about laws that keep women and children at risk of the same fate as Brittany.


A decade since someone raped and suffocated her after he either broke in to her 2nd story apartment (next to the high school she graduated from )or was waiting for her to fall asleep. A decade since the crime scene DNA started being compared to suspect DNA, now over 3000 Oklahoma suspects and probably half a million in CODIS.


A decade since the lead detective, Jeff Felton and post his retirement (still works on it), Eddie Majors, began their never tiring work that still keeps the case from turning cold. Even so, the mystery remains unsolved.


  Within this decade, 8 years ago LAMAR Advertising began the 4-year rotation around sites in Tulsa, of their donated billboard. Within this decade, 7 years ago, reporters across the US began to tell Brittany’s story as ‘the girl next door.” Not because I, the grieving mother, was travelling thousands of miles, self funded and by myself but because reporters understood her murder could happen to anyone as long as there are at least 24 States that refuse to take DNA at Arrest. They helped me raise community awareness regarding risks of waiting to take DNA until conviction and how this allows dangerous people to live within our communities until convicted and how the majority of the crimes that need DNA to help solve, are the violent crimes where 90 % of the victims are women and 9 % are children. Within this decade, 7 years ago (10/7/07), through unbelievable gifts from FELLARS and Midwest Wraps, of a WRAP for my RAV 4 and in 2011, a WRAP for my Nissan Cube,. the 1st CARAVAN TO CATHC A KILLER tour began. Now, these self-funded missions of love have now visited visit 115 cities across 46 states. and allowed me to meet community members, reporters, local law enforcement, DAs, lawmakers, as well as thousands met on highways in-between. The thumbs up as people drove by or hugs at rest stops, each experience gave me courage to carry on. A decade since Brittany’s murder, since she was abruptly taken from my life.


My breath escapes me at the passed time. Even with my success of local news stories, my now, one time a year CARAVAN has only given us exposure to 1/100000 of people national news might reach.


, When a parent loses a child, a cavern opens inside their heart that beats in irregular mourning. To quiet a sense of imploding, my CARAVANs give me breath beyond the never-ending loss. What more can a mother do..

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

HUSH A BYE, I'LL TRY NOT TO CRY AS YOU SLEEP MY LITTLE BABY..............................


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<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/mom.missing.brittany/posts/10152615745199468" data-width="466"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mom.missing.brittany/posts/10152615745199468">Post</a> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mom.missing.brittany">Brittany Phillips</a>.</div></div>

Thursday, June 26, 2014

My heart

I wish I understood...why my wrapped pink purple SUV, my travels, my daughter's story, my attempt to save other daughter's is turned away from by national news, even when it is stuck in front of their face. Again someone goes out of their way, selfless, with empassioned heart, amid their own story being told on an ID show, to try to get the producers to recognize our story... My heart fluttered that once agin, this time, direct contact might get our story told.. But so far, not even an intial co...ntact. My heart hurts. We hit the 10th anniversary of burying her on her 19th birthday on 10-4-04. Now after 7 years,( through the unbelievable gift of my wraps, from Fellers and Midwest Wraps), of criss-crossing the country across 48 states, pushing our story to at least 2-3 of each state passed through as part of the 100000 miles I have carved through on my CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER TOURs, almost always self funded in order to get 120 reporters to share her story in hopes of tips, warning communities about laws that put our women and children at risk.




But those cities do not match even 1/10000 of what national news would cover. I gladly put myself in debt each year but each year the story gets older, the car breaks down more and more. I've gladly spent the 60-80000 but in these later years, things like transmissions dying, house falling aprt, sale and buying of house troublesome it gets harder. I have no partner to assist, no funding from any source, so last summer on my 11th CARAVAN- $ 6000 to travel 13000 miles for only 6 stories for the 3 weeks of travel hurt me financially all right after my trans broke down. Earlier eyars I spent the same but got 10-16 stories.. And all these years, I have yet to hear of anyone else doing this for their murdered loved one....isn't that enough... Brittany needs her murder solved, people need to fully understand DNA


Sunday, September 1, 2013

I AM SORRY BRITTY...I THOUGHT OF THOSE WHO KNEW AND LOVED YOU, THAT MORE WOULD HELP.............


Wednesday, August 28, 2013

THANK YOU FARGO AND WDAY!!!

Even before the story came on the News at 10 pm, people in Fargo have come up, expressed empathy, offered prayers, just gave a hug. These are the reasons I can keep on these CARAVANs and why I hate when they end. Across the US I have met so many kind people. Fargo is no exception and I am sorry South Dakota, but North Dakota has made me feel more at home since I was on the highway to and through Bismarck and then to Fargo, cruising around Broadway and Main in town today and the outer reaches of town, at the LaQuinta where I have stayed. I will be around town tomorrow before leaving for Duluth. Honk hug, wave. I will do so back.
This town has a place in my heart!!!

Sunday, June 9, 2013

TEARS ACROSS MILES

It has killed me to wait a full year to do another CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER tour. But I will be leaving in about 2 weeks if not sooner. What has made it finally happen is that SOME PEOPLE VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART (both genetically and emotionally!!! ), WHO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH UNBELIEVABLE WORDS OF SUPPORT AND HOPE seemed to get it in their head they were not doing enough and sent a truly generous donation. I am not good at asking for help. So yes you Jane, family and friends, who sent This gift to fill the tank a number of times!!! remain close to my heart, even without the gift. I know you have always known this. I hope to be out at least 4 weeks and this makes it possible. As for the direction of the CARAVAN I asked people for ideas of where I should stop. I think there is an older post with all the cities we have had stories in (108 reporters across 46 states and about 86 cities. Please!!! Any feedback for where people want us to stop will be welcomed even if I have to zig and zag. You can email at therapoet@aol.com. I always have a semi plan but go where I am drawn. As noted I must visit Minnesota, N and S Dakota (only states with no stories,) Also I mentioned that I am going to try to do a travelogue/video of this CARAVAN. I fear this may be the last........

Thursday, June 6, 2013

ASK YOUR LAWMAKERS--WHAT IF THIS WAS YOUR DAUGHTER! VOTING AGAINST DNA AT ARREST INCREASES CHANCES IT WILL BE

The Maryland v. King decision was released; the Supreme Court overturn the Mar Mariposayland Court of Appeals; ******holding that DNA collection from Arrestees WAS!!! IS!!! constitutional.****** THESE ARE THREE EXAMPLES EMAIL ME AT THERAPOET@AOL.COM FOR THE COMPLETE STUDIES FROM CHICAGO, MARYLAND, INDIANA AND DENVER
Requiring DNA for felony arrests (at arrest) does solve and prevent violent crimes. Waiting for conviction costs lives. Study by the City of Chicago, and presented to the State Legislature in 2005 ****************Chicago’s Study on Preventable Crimes******* This study show how !!!60 violent crimes could have been prevented, including 53 murders and rapes!!!! if these 8 men had had DNA taken at one of their arrests Most states require DNA collection upon felony conviction, but review of criminal records shows offenders often have**numerous felony arrests before conviction** CHICAGO IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. I WILL SEND YOU MORE.
Chicago’s examination of criminal activities of*** eight individuals identified 60 violent crimes, that, if DNA had been taken at arrest--“the fingerprint of the 21st century” could have been prevented. In each case, the offender committed previously ***undetected violent crimes**** that ***would have been solved through a DNA match***. But DNA was not required at arrest. INSTEAD… • 22 murders – victims ranging from 24 to 44 years of age • 30 rapes – victims ranging from 15 to 65 years of age • Attempted rapes • Aggravated kidnapping
The 8 men with almost ALL FEMALE VICTIMS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE accumulated a total of 21 felony arrests before finally being identified. Only seven of the prior felony arrests were for violent crimes – the remaining two-thirds of arrests were for non-violent felonies. They were free to commit--60 violent crimes, including 53 murders and rapes, that could have been prevented.
Chicago Preventable Crimes. (BELOW ARE JUST TWO OF THE 8 EXAMPLES FROM CHICAGO STUDY. THERE ARE VIRGIANIA, INDIANA AND DENVER STUDIES Andre Crawford was charged with eleven murders and one attempted murder/aggravated sexual assault. If the state had required him to give a DNA sample during his felony arrest on March 6, 1993, a DNA match could have been obtained with the DNA evidence recovered from his first murder. Ten murders could have been prevented. If Crawford’s DNA had been taken on March 6, 1993 after he was arrested for attempted sexual abuse (felony),the subsequent 10 murders and one rape would not have happened.
03/1993 He was arrested for felony theft NO DNA taken
09/1993 1st murder, DNA evidence recovered from crime scene-no identification of perpetrator
12/1994 - 04/1995 2 women murdered
05/1995-- 07/1997 arrested for Felony attempted sexual abuse 1 victim// Women murdered// woman raped
1997-1999 7 women murdered
01/1998 Arrested for felony drug possession***** ____________________________
Brandon Harris was convicted of five aggravated criminal sexual assaults and one aggravated kidnapping/attempted rape.If the state had required him to give a DNA sample during his felony arrest on August 25, 2000, a DNA match could have been obtained with the DNA evidence recovered from his first rape. Four rapes and one attempted rape/armed robbery/aggravated kidnapping could have been prevented.
12/1999 1st rape, DNA evidence recovered
08/2000 - 10/2000 Arrest for sexual assault
11/2000 1 woman raped, 1 woman kidnapped
12/2000 Arrest for robbery, while home confined, another rape occurs
02/2001 1 women raped,1 girl raped
05/2001 Girl raped ____________________________________________
Geoffrey Griffin was charged with eight murders and one aggravated criminal sexual assault. If the state had required him to give a DNA sample during his felony arrest on August 26, 1995, a DNA match could have been obtained with the DNA evidence recovered from his first rape. Eight murders, one rape and one attempted rape could have been prevented. If Griffin’s DNA had been taken on August 26, 1995 after he was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (felony), the subsequent eight murders, one rape and one attempted rape would not have happened.
08/1995 Arrest for drug possession
07/1998 Woman raped & killed, DNA evidence recovered
07/1998 - 05/2000 4 women murdered, 1 woman raped
06/2000 Woman attacked
06/2000 4 women murdered
06/2000 Arrested & charged with 8 murders, 1 sexual assault ___________________________________ THESE ARE THREE EXAMPLES EMAIL ME AT THERAPOET@AOL.COM FOR THE COMPLETE STUDIES FROM CHICAGO, MARYLAND, INDIANA AND DENVER THIS IS NOT OKAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE SHARE
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-upholds-maryland-law-says-police-may-take-dna-samples-from-arrestees/2013/06/03/0b619ade-cc5a-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_story.html

Sunday, May 12, 2013

MILES OF MOTHERS' TEARS

I've posted this a few times, hoping another mother of loss & love will read. Now as day has met most, I again wish Happy Mother's Day to all mothers of murdered/abducted/missing children I've met on my CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER tours, to those not met. You firmly hug the esssence of your child, as you carry your loss & the loss of them never being mothers,fathers in this world. I send hugs, prayers to mothers of murdered, missing & abducted; MOMMA, with special care to those walking alone as they live in honor of their child. My love, prayers, offers of help go to all living with such losses with my hands reaching farther to single moms or those with partner who can’t fund a search for answers or who place their daily survival to make ends meet as monument to the memory..of course they are the greatest monument.. My love, hope, prayers, offers of help go to those often walk a solitary path but refuse to stop.We did not choose this path, this family built from losses, but we are a family stronger than most. On this mother’s day, I applaud each of you who have taken motherhood to its highest dimension….that of of continuing love....my love, admiration to you Maggie-mom of Brittany Phillips 10-4-85 to 10-4-04

Saturday, May 11, 2013

VOICES ACROSS TEARS

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers I've met across the US, to those not yet met. You firmly hug the esssence of your murdered child, even as you feel the loss & the loss of them never being mothers,fathers in this world. I send hugs, prayers to all, especially in US cities, where they live in honor of their child but do so in isolation. My love, prayers,offers of help go to all. My hands reaches farther to those who may be a single mom or who, even with partner,can't fund searching for answers or paying homage, can only struggle to pay bills. My love, hope, prayers, offers of help go to those who walk a solitary path but refuse to stop. We did not choose this path or this family built from losses, but it is family strong as any. On this mother’s day, I applaud all of you who have taken motherhood to its highest dimension…that of continueing love-Maggie in honor of Brittany Phillips 10-4-85 to 10-4-04

Friday, May 3, 2013

In the last few days we have had more than 900 views. This can only be the searching for justice story. It has to be the impact of Jon Lieberman's work


Friday, June 29, 2012

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS..THE GIFT OF NATIONAL NEWS

I will write more tomorrow and post the HLN story. Leave it to say I am still pinching myself. After 7 years, 8 months since Brittany's murder, 3 years, 8 months since I started the CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER  tours, we had an national network interview on Headline News (HLN) Jane Velez Mitchel Most Wanted show. It was with the magic of kindness of heart connections with Kenny J,who connected us to Jon Leiberman (who interviewed us in May on Crimeline) and Jon's kindness of heart, connecting us with this JVM, and Jane's kindness of ehart to do our story, that Brittany's voice was heard. Yes after covering 67000 miles across 46 states where 106 reporters have so kindly shared Brittany's story to both help us get tips and also educate people about the problems with DNA and rape laws (and I would never , ever trade those local stories) after all those hours and dollars I spent on the road, JVM's show gave us the breadth of coverage across the US that I did not have enough money or years left to do!!! I hope we can keep the national momentum. I am forever in gratitude to all those that helped me make this connection--basically everyone I have met since I started the CARAVANs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, May 18, 2012

LAST FEW MILES.......................

Well I am in Louisville now. First thank you all for the gifts of hugs, prayers, well wishes, smiles thumbs up, donations. I will most likely be home Sunday eve.
It has been a hard road since I left the Northeast. And sadly I think my bank let me know I hit the red two days from home. It would have been a lot sooner without all the donations!!!

I went up to Erie Penn, after Hartford was silent, then Erie was silent, so went to Winston Salem....silly me forgot John E was on trial there for a mistress when he was running for resident...........................That was a week of staying a day longer at hotels hoping a story would come.

 Hit Augusta and they did a great story. Then drove to Orlando and St Pete. SAW JOSH!!!! He looks great, seems happy and keeps advancing at Apple and with his company. Hoped for a mother's day story in St. Pete where Brit was born and where she had been only 4 months prior to her murder. Stayed  long there but no story. Went to Macon and they did a great story. I will post it. Then hit Huntington WV, an area I really had not covered and 3 days no story.

Now in Louisville, THE LAST CITY  I have money to get home but overdraft charges will double every withdrawel so need to get home before all is gone.

Only in Louisvile since last eve. I hope this last city gives us a final story. My heart is breaking heading home, It would break a little less to have a closure story. Brit lived her for 2 years , visited my parents alot. She was on buses and in the airport during the 1991 United Way Campaign!!!

Thank you everyone who have made this trip what it was-- in its gifts the waves on the road, those at rest stops who hugged, shared a tear, the people donating on line, the people who emailed me that they saw me when they could have just gone on, ideas that were sent, tips and so much more!

Some of you apologized because your donations were small (in your mind) but they all helped me get to 2 days before home before my money went into the red. It would have happened much sooner without. You all have a place in my heart for everything you all did.   with love and caring Maggie-Brittany and Joshua's mom

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

PORTLAND MAINE YOU HAVE A PLACE IN MY HEART

Everyone has been so warm and welcoming here, amid the rain showers and the cold wind. Thank you to all those who took time to hear Brittany's story, to give a hug. These are the things that keep me doing this!!!!And to Reporter Caroline Cornish and her photographer(so bad at remembering names). They made me feel comfortable and stood out in the cold wind even longer than I did. I am forever grateful. The gift of a story in each city touches my heart.

Saturday, April 7, 2012


Brittany Phillips I find on days I feel the sadness of Brittany's loss, I am reminded of the beauty that has rode beside the loss for almost all of the 7.5 years. The many gifts I've received on this path covered with echoes of loss, the people I am touched by with their kindness and generousity, strangers in parking lots, new friends found on the road and in Tulsa, OKC and other towns in Oklahoma, the generous hug...s, conversation, well wishes, all touch me at my hearts depth. Sitting at Paneras with the H's today, (I would have never met if not for my CARAVAN car) made me realize this as I knew we were creating a lifelong friendship. Then out of the blue I received a notice of a donation which had me in tears. I had received another earlier this week which did the same. JP--yours surprised me. I have such gratitude for your kindness (of course I knew you'd be a "special" person") You struggle as much as I do to make ends meet. But I love ya for it!!! JF and JF, I do not know what to do with you!!!! You all have made these 7.5 years tolerable, liveable----emotional support, patience (!!:) ), the investment of your caring and concern, how you made us (Britty, Josh and I) feel like family......... there was no need to give what you did. But I know you did it with a spiritual caring. I love you all, including the ones who now have better access to the one who never rests! Thank you all. I am on the road beginning Tuesday!!!!!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

I will return to the strong willed Maggie in a day or so, return to being the fighter, return to sharing voices of those lost, return to laughing and joking..... however, today I shed tears; take a deep sigh, then deep breath…plan somehow to take steps towards moving on. This morning I woke to a message from Jeff, our Detective. He tried to call but I was out with the pups. After delay upon delay of running the DNA batch (6+ weeks) that held our recent suspects DNA, one’s who truly fit the profile better than any before, who’s histories were what one would expect of killer, who could have been motivated by a “hate” crime, the prime SUSPECT’S DNA DID NOT MATCH OUR DOUBLE DNA PROFILE. Yes…. I feel sorry for myself for a minute. Even tho one can’t ask why because there is no answer to whys. I have to state why, why after so many bumps in this investigation and in my reg life, why couldn't it just be Jeff was retiring. It had to be retiring and the best suspect ever turns out to not to be our killer. In addition, the other 2 prime movers in his department have already gone. I am not familiar to anyone there anymore. Last night unable to sleep, my heart echoed the loss of Brittany, far off, a growing, but welcomed fear of Brit being “hurt” during a trial. However, I know I dreaded this outcome more...finding out a few days before Jeff retires from Tulsa PD, that the DNA did not match!!! It is not just about the case being unsolved. 7 ½ years Jeff has stood by my side—much more than duty called for, about the strongest support I have had for this path. In addition, there still is the few media who also provide that strength on days I can’t, a few dear friends who I can rarely see. This morn it really hit home as I read Jeff’s text. I crumbled on the floor in a chest deep “noooo.” For a few moments wished there was someone who could hold me for a few moments so I could just “give it up”. Its days like this I tire of this being such a solitary journey. Yes, many voices from afar support me, some on similar paths. I don’t know what I would do without them. Yet most of these fellow travelers have a hand nearby, to grab as they feel screams rising. I live life, joke, and laugh. Brittany is not 24 -7. Yet I know and have been told, just the idea of her death, losing someone near, scares people away. Work, with its distorted leadership and support of distorted mindsets and priorities, provides no escape.. Don’t know how I would survive that without my one colleague, my R2. I will get past this, especially if work does not block my next CARAVAN in 2-3 weeks. I keep making changes they ask for but once done, they change the line I must cross. Even if they do back off, I fear funds will halt this CARAVAN. Between windshield, 4 tires and water heater in the last 1 ½ months and gas shooting up, self-funded may not work. I really hope people are not turned off by this “poor me”, will keep the energy up in writing media, will help generate some ideas for fundraiser or ways to save on the CARAVAN. This story really needs to go national now. I will regain my voice soon. Right now, I am just a little tired. With gratitude for all support voiced..Maggie