Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Velez's Book - an Honest Life!


I recently purchased the book iwant by Jane Velez-Mitchell and must say this book is "addictive." I find myself at 2am still not wanting to put it down, not because Jane explores and invites you into her personal space but rather because the common factors are parallel with my own personal journey of where I have been and where I am going.

I have not personally had a substance addiction (unless you count the many medications over the years that have helped me to be mobile from rheumatoid arthritis. From chemo type drugs to DMARDS, there has been many but without the addiction side effects) problem, but I am a child of a recovering alcoholic, my mother’s painful and destruction years have been a difficult one, however hearing and reading Jane’s book has allowed me to see [from an addict’s perspective] just what my mother has gone through to get to where she is today; three years sober!

I am still getting to know this beautiful woman [my mother] that for almost forty years of my life I really never knew. See, the bottle was always more important than I was to her. The lifestyle we lived, the cars we drove, the weekend trips to the Bahamas, the luxury of International travel and designer clothing always seemed to be the norm in our lives; but the status of celebrity, the status of our postal address, and the status of the company we kept only were the future products of a disaster waiting to happen. Growing up in our house (in an elite neighborhood on the inter coastal waterways of Fort Lauderdale) a young girl always had everything she could ever want…but did I?

Jane’s journey is no different than most of our lives, but until you know who you are and where you are going and why, you may think you are in a different class (for better or worse), but I encourage you, go get this book and read with an open mind and allow yourself to really understand what our purpose on the earth is all about. As Jane’s mom Anita says “The body is like soap. It gets used up.” You and only you can determine how quickly your body and soul will be used up. Stop blaming others for how things went in life and focus on how to pave the road that will take you on the journey you are destined for.

I went the local bookstore to purchase Jane’s book with the intent to help another family member with his deep alcohol addiction, but as with most things on my journey, when I have always set out to help others (indirectly or with intent) I seem to be the recipient of a beautiful gift; in this case, setting out to help an in-law actually help me to understand the struggles my mom has gone through and how lonely and in pain my mother actually was; which today, makes me even more grateful for the journey my life has taken this past year…back to having my mom in my life.

Take the time and pick up a copy of the book today, you too will have a better picture looking back in the mirror at you as I did. Kudos to Jane and I am looking forward to reading the remainder of the book!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Search for Jamie Grissim Today

Vancouver, WA - Just a reminder that later today Clark County Sherriff’s Office will be conducting a ground search & recovery effort for the missing Vancouver Teenager (from 1971) Jamie Grissim. On hand will be Starr Lara (Hillsboro, OR resident and sister of Jamie Grissim), Michelle Bart, chairperson of National Vigil For Hope, and lead detective on this cold case, Rick Buckner.

Search & Recovery for Jamie Grissim
Sunday, October 11, 2009 – 9am
www.HelpFindJamieGrissim.com

Jamie,16,was last seen on the morning of December 7, 1971, as she left for school at Ft. Vancouver High School by her sister. Her purse, ID, and possessions were found in May 1972 in the woods NE of Vancouver, at a bridge crossing within very short distance from a trail where two victims were found. Jamie is considered to be the first victim of a potential serial killer [Warren Forest] who is believed to have raped and killed 6 to 8 young Vancouver women in Clark County between January 10, 1972 and October 1, 1974. He was tried for the death of one woman in 1978 and received life sentence. Jamie is still missing. One body was never identified to this day. All victims except Jamie have been found. Forest is due out in 2014.

Thank you for continuing to keep this case and all missing children & adult cases visible. Any questions, please contact at 626-644-3472.

Michelle A. Bart
Helping Heroes National Vigil for Hope
626-644-3472 cell/voicewww.nationalvigilforhope.org
www.helpfindjamiegrissim.com