A little Brown Book

As you are probably aware already my main reason for being on Twitter and Facebook is to help raise awareness for the missing, both children and adults.  This is not some  idea that popped into my head out of nowhere, but rather the direct effect the disappearance of Madeleine McCann had on me and it was profound.

I have followed the story of Madeleine since 3rd May, 2007 and have done much as I can to try to make sure her story is known as far and wide as is possible.  As well as Madeleine I have come to know the story of so many missing children and adults and that is what keeps me going today.

I at one point worked as a volunteer for a Scottish Charity called Help Find My Child which sadly is no longer in  existence. This work ensured that I was kept up to date with the stories and updates of many children across the world, some found safe and well, some still missing. During my time as a volunteer I got to know the names of organisations that helped families with missing relatives and it was there too that I learned many of the IT skills I have today. For that I am very grateful to the Scottish person who set that up and she knows who she is.

With the missing in mind I thought I would share a little event that happened not that long ago when I went on holiday abroad. 

I had taken several books with me on holiday to read but before the end of my stay I ran out of reading material.  No mind thought I, off to the Quiet Lounge of the hotel where they had several large bookcases full of books all arranged in different languages.  You know the type of thing I mean; you put in a book and take a book out.  I had a look around and was disappointed to find that the English bookcase only had one sad little brown book which was hardback and had no dust-cover. What to do? Was I really going to take this sad little affair and eek it out for the rest of my holiday? I decided I had better have a look at least and find out exactly what is was as that was my only chance of something to read. I turned the front cover over only to discover that it was a book written by Jaycee Lee Dugard a missing child for 18 years, now thankfully recovered.  The book was entitled...

My Stolen life    http://www.amazon.com/A-Stolen-Life-ebook/dp/B004ZZS4CC

Wow, can't tell you how I felt at that moment  as I knew Jaycee's story and it wasn't a nice one.

What was I going to do now?  I can't read this, the story of a young girl missing and abused by a paedophile and his wife for 18 sad years. No way thought I  tears rising to my eyes.  But how the heck could I put this little brown book back for God's sake, this child had written it to let people know what she had gone through and the misery that was her life, it was her voice on paper, I had to take it.

So I did, saying nothing to my husband as I couldn't even speak I felt so upset. From there we made our way back to our hotel room where I promptly burst into tears.  My poor husband hadn't a clue what the heck was going on and I felt a fool trying to explain it. I read the book and yes it broke my heart, sometimes I squirmed at the words that I was reading, but in the end it was a book of hope and showed the love of a mother and child for each other.  It was the story of a girl who wanted to spread the  word that we should never give up on a missing child just like her mother hadn't or any other mother with a missing child. I can't decide for you whether you read this story or not, only you can decide that, but as this brave girl said :-

"Sometimes you have to hold onto any hope to survive."  Jaycee Lee Dugard

Please keep hope in your heart for missing children

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More information about Jaycee Lee Dugard

http://pinterest.com/Looking4U2/jaycee-lee-dugard/