CA CA - Bob Harrod, 81, Orange County, 27 July 2009 - #16

[Cubby]

Does anybody have any ideas about what would be a nice message for Bob and Fontelle on their wedding anniversary, that would sort of represent a general wish for them, on behalf of all those who want to see him come home?

I was thinking that something along the lines of 'to mark the fourth wedding anniversary of Mr and Mrs Harrod, and the hope it will be the last where Bob's whereabouts are unknown. With good wishes from everyone supporting the search for Bob Harrod.'

I think that's a bit not-quite-good-enough though.

I like it, zwie'.

They should have had more time together. How I wish they did.

 

[Cubby]

A good start, Zweibel, for certain!!!

"the last with Bob & Fontelle apart?"

Or does that sound like we wish Fontelle ill?

What about the last without answers and justice for Bob?

 

[Cubby]

Thank you for the creative and the care tips - Grainne; you helped me work out what all the twine was for. minusfour; you have helped me decide where to put them in the garden after the anniversary.

I shall have a little Bob corner in my garden. It will be nice to think that in years to come, long after Bob is brought home, his and Fontelle's plants will still be here marking the long years of the search for him.

Daughter JuM seems so concerned with charity and other good works, I'm disappointed she hasn't made any attempt to raise funds in Bob's name, and marked his missing years that way. I would think that would have raised more money for the charities, while keeping Bob's name out there as well.

All the opportunities for bio family to do something seem to have been lost or ignored over the years. The omission looks very glaring to me.

BBM. She never leaves the house. I think it's all talk to create the appearance or image she'd like to portray. Her inaction with regards to her fathers disappearance demonstrates clearly what's on the inside.

 

[Grainne Dhu]

I shall have a little Bob corner in my garden. It will be nice to think that in years to come, long after Bob is brought home, his and Fontelle's plants will still be here marking the long years of the search for him.

SBM & BBM

My vet's husband made a memory garden for her with a hanging swing seat in an arbor and all sorts of beautiful flowers. He's a cattle farmer, not a gardener but his mother is a gardener and he got her advice. He maintains it for his wife and it is her place to go when her heart is heavy after a sad outcome in her practice. She has chosen to use it also to inter the cremated remains of animals special to her: her own pets and animals that she was unable to save whose owners would not or could not deal with their remains.

It is quiet and peaceful with lots of butterflies in the summer (due to Mom's planting advice).

A corner or your garden in memory of Bob sounds like a beautiful thing to me. Maybe try to have a little bench or other resting spot to encourage people to spend time there?

 

[Grainne Dhu]

Does anybody have any ideas about what would be a nice message for Bob and Fontelle on their wedding anniversary, that would sort of represent a general wish for them, on behalf of all those who want to see him come home?

I was thinking that something along the lines of 'to mark the fourth wedding anniversary of Mr and Mrs Harrod, and the hope it will be the last where Bob's whereabouts are unknown. With good wishes from everyone supporting the search for Bob Harrod.'

I think that's a bit not-quite-good-enough though.

I like what you wrote.

If it just doesn't seem right to you, how about "in memory of the fourth anniversary of Bob and Fontelle Harrod's wedding and the last truly happy day Bob spent on earth."

 

[zwiebel]

I like all of those ideas. I'm going to try and incorporate them all somehow. Keep them coming!

I did plan a garden corner very much along the lines of the one you describe Grainne. It has a pretty garden seat, which Mr Z anchored with huge metal spikes and strong cement. (Ridiculously excessive and I told him so). I scattered wild flower seeds among some lovely old stones, and there is a pond and a hazelnut tree that provides shade and is full of birds. My wild flowers were tiny shoots when the floods hit.

I watched neighbours' garden seats and even sheds floating away on the water. Mine didn't budge. Mr Z was right, I was wrong and I had to tell him that too!....He made the most of it.

None of the flowers survived though, so I'm going to put the hydrangeas there now. Hopefully they'll have five or so years to get some strong roots, before the next floods come calling.

 

[zwiebel]

Just to return to 'my' SAR area for a moment - they take their trout seriously in California. Catching trout with a gill net is an arrestable offence there, and police will follow through! I have no idea what a gill net is, mind you. I think laws are best obeyed, but I have to admit I feel a bit sorry for anyone who gets an arrest record that states 'catching trout with a gill net'.

http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archi...cused-of-fishing-for-trout-with-gill-net.html

 

[zwiebel]

I wish we knew all the spots Bob and his family members used to go fishing in - or maybe some still do. I suspect that's something old friends in Monrovia would know, or maybe the friends he and Fontelle drove down to see - in Lake Tahoe, I think?

 

[zwiebel]

I still can't find a single bit of info re trash collection days for Carnation Drive - or anywhere in Placentia, for that matter.

But I have found the current street sweeping schedule. It's the second and fourth Monday every month. 7.30am-12pm. I calculate the fourth Monday of July 2009 was the 27th, the day Bob disappeared.

So if the schedule was the same in 2009, there could have been a street sweeper around at the very time we think Bob is most likely to have disappeared.
http://www.athensservices.com/Brochures/Placentia_Mon_2nd_4th_weeks.pdf

 

[zwiebel]

I'm not going to look for the trash collection day anymore, because I have searched several times and I am sure it is not online anywhere.

It is not on the City Council website, or the trash collector's website - though they go into minute details about which way to have handles facing, and how far to have them from a fence. It seems pretty daft to me that a new resident can't lookup a simple thing like which day their trash will be collected, on the service provider's website, but there you go. I guess you just have to go by when neighbours put their trash out, and hope they get it right, if you're new in Placentia.

I think the trash is collected Tuesdays though. I've got to that reasoning by finding a post about a strike on Placentia City fb, from April. It says Placentia residents may not have their trash collected tuesday, and it will be picked up saturday instead. That's the closest I think I'm going to get.
https://www.facebook.com/PlacentiaCA?ref=stream&hc_location=timeline

 

[zwiebel]

Here's a pic of one of their sweeper trucks (Lol, I though it would be a man with a broom, like here).

http://newsantaana.com/2012/09/17/a...vices-scheduled-to-begin-in-santa-ana-on-101/

If those roadworkers in the videos were on Carnation DriveMonday, and then this truck came along too, I imagine there might have been a bit of a problem.

Maybe a possibility the service providers didn't communicate with each other in advance, and the driver had to put in a report that sweeping would have to be rescheduled as he couldn't access Carnation Drive?

 

[sreshowtime]

I hope Miss Fontelle has her some company this weekend, family or friends, to make the burden of knowing Mr H is still missing a wee bit lighter. I know I will be thinking of her and Mr H...and praying that someone, somewhere will find it in their heart and soul to speak up if they know anything that might let him be found.

 

[zwiebel]

I don't know for certain of course, but I've always had the impression Fontelle has a close-knit family and they are very supportive. I also get the impression non-relatives have been impressed by the way she has tried to keep Bob's name in the spotlight.

I kinda like to think that, unlike her husband, when Fontelle needs care and support at a difficult time it's there for her.

I suspect Bob's blood relatives will totally ignore the wedding anniversary because they were not happy about Bob remarrying and wish the marriage had never taken place. That's just my opinion though. Daughters have stated the opposite several times and maybe their word should be accepted.

Their actions which have contradicted their supportive words make that too difficult for me though, I'm afraid.

 

[deca]

If anyone REALLY wants the info about mail pickup/trash etc. one of the ways you might be able to get it is to look and see if there are any houses for sale on that street and ask the realtor. The realtor in turn would ask the current homeowner and get back to you. I actually had someone ask me questions like that when my house was up for sale. Granted, it might have changed in the last 5 years--- but at my parents house it has pretty much been the same for 25 so you never know.

 

[zwiebel]

I do think it could be important to know, mainly in case the trash collectors saw anything. There is a hint in a very odd post made by someone claiming to be Bob's middle daughter, I believe. About how there were no 'large objects' in the trash.

That makes me think the trash wasn't emptied on Monday when Bob disappeared, as I don't think RB was at the house that day? There don't seem to be trash cans out Wednesday, in the video showing Fontelle's arrival ( and after that, she would be taking care of her own household matters). That just leaves Tuesday the 28th, to my mind, when I think all three daughters were in the house.

I'm cautious about talking to estate agents. The last one I spoke to sold me this old wreck!

 

[MaryNo]

This was written for Robert and Fontelle's 4th Anniversary.

It's going to make the rounds, I think, a LOT this next week

 

[believe09]

Lovely MaryNo. Thank you.

 

[zwiebel]

June 29th, 2013.

Thinking of you on your fourth wedding anniversary, Mr and Mrs Harrod.

I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee, give recompense.
Anne Bradstreet

 

[believe09]

Just beautiful, z. You have a knack for sure.

I cant come up with the right words today-Mrs Harrod is a hero for pushing through. There was no way for her to imagine this nightmare 4 years ago-it breaks my heart to imagine the joy of this day in 2009 and to see where she is now.

People are doing their level best to bring him home to you, Ma'am. I hope this day doesnt bring you too much pain.

 

[MaryNo]

She did a good job! I think her poem is so lovely, too! I'm sure by noon it'll reach all 4 corners of the US.

Thank you Seajay! :tyou:

Lovely MaryNo. Thank you.