I'm the neighbor on the farm who lived in the small cottage by the stream. I got the book as soon as Annasmom told me via email that it was available, and I'm a little upset with myself about how much I have forgotten. Some of my lapsed memory I can blame on residual chemo-brain, and some on old age. In particular, I dont remember the information uncovered as a result of surveillance of the two Georges, and the contents of the Box From Hell. Id moved to New Mexico, and from there to Pennsylvania, and am now in North Carolina. Today, I want to toss a couple dreams into the pot along with some strange events that may or may not have any relevance.
Annasmom, Annasbro, JoeFord, Sherlock, Doogie, and all you wonderful sleuths, I've just been reading through the threads on the forum here, and am so impressed with everyone's insights and theories, and how you all are working so closely to find Anna. Your sleuthing and reviews of all known facts make it clear that Anna was taken away by somebody. I don't really remember much about that day, it was so chaotic, and all the focus was on searching the flooded stream and the many buildings and barns on the farm. And then with the arrival of the sheriffs and the divers, helicopters, the whole place was teeming with people. Even though I was there that day, in Annasmom's living room with her and Joe, so many details have fled my mind over the years. I do remember Annasmom getting up and saying with a serious look on her face 'I'm not tracking Anna.' And that's when we all started looking around the farm, calling for her. And time turned upside down.
I remember Annasmom telling me about a dream she had, shortly after Anna disappeared, when Anna appeared to her covered in a seaweed-draped shawl. At least it was something like that.
I told Annasmom about a dream I had in which Anna and I were at a big flea market, a huge swap meet in a football stadium, we were walking along the aisles of tables; then the dream shifted and we were in a neighborhood, where the stoops of the row houses came right down to the sidewalk, and as we were walking along we looked up, to our right, and there was an enormous white rabbit on the top step. The rabbit had a large pink rose 'tattooed' on its chest, in its fur. Then I woke up. Years later I saw Carole Bell, a psychic in Albuquerque. At the end of the session I told her I'd lost a good friend, a 5-year-old girl, she looked at me and said right away 'She is OK, she's with the Rose People.' I didn't know what she meant, so she said that the Rose People are like spirits, we can walk right through them. Hmmmm. Maybe she's with a family last name of Rose?
Anna was the only person on the farm who would come and eat liver and onions with me. And a little bacon, of course. She loved to help me measure and count my worms. One worm was so big, we made a special bed for him, and Anna named him King Worm. He had whiskers. She also named my billy goat: Rocky Road Raccoon Flower. Anna was great fun to be with, her giggles were infectious, we had many good laughs together. I hope she is alive and still giggling. Maybe she is a gardener, raising worms somewhere...
Two other things I remember. In Annasmom's kitchen there was a small mirror over the stove, and some time after Anna disappeared I looked at the mirror, and it wasn't my reflection, it was an old mutual friend's face looking back at me. It was the ex-wife of Dr. Dick. Annasmom and I called her on the phone immediately, and we all cried. Later, back down in my little cottage, I walked by the mirror on the bathroom door, and there was NO reflection.
And oh, now I am remembering a Tarot reading over at Jeffrey's in Mill Valley. The reader basically said the cards said Anna was a prisoner of some sort. This was before Jeffrey disowned all of us, the old San Francisco crew. He 'got religion.'
Also I thought the van that the carpenter saw leaving the canyon after he stopped to commune with the horses by the fence at Bud's, that the van was a green panel van with two men in the front seats who waved to him. But I may be mixing this up with the old movie 'The Collector' where the guy drove a green panel van. That movie was scary.
The small footprints in the mud at the bank of the stream by the big barn were probably mine, as I wore little kid size work boots. I remember going there while searching. That barn had a big water wheel around back. I don't remember if my estranged husband was there for the search as we'd split up by then. Annasmom, was he there?
Annasmom, I have had many occasions in my life to remember your words to me on a day we stood on the bridge, leaning on the railing overlooking the stream, you'd been re-reading The Tibetan Book of the Dead, and you turned to me and said, 'These things happen to those of us who can handle it.' We just handle it. There are varying degrees of handling sadness, tragedy, mystery, frustration, anger, confusion. It slips all around, is never static, and is all a part of handling it. You have always been my model for strength, grace under pressure, beauty, talent, and concern for all those around you. Remembering your words helped me handle the nightmare of BC.
I can't help but feel that the two Georges were the schemers behind Anna's disappearance. If anybody can solve this, it will be this great crew here at Websleuths...
Annasmom, I pray you get a call from Anna soon... and Anna, wherever you are, please call your mom