Dear Noel,
I understand completely. These days, who knows what’s what? When I
wrote to Hanuman, I was very impetuous, because I’m so concerned
about my mother. Truthfully, I didn’t think he would post my letter
and was amazed when I went back to the computer that same night and
there were three donations, one from Hanuman, one from one of the
jewelers my mother has written to back and forth and another from
someone she doesn’t know. All the others, $250 altogether, were from
people who had never written to my mother, fellow Orchidians, but
with gas, food and car repairs that is already more than half gone.
My mother was embarassed and a little upset with me, but then she
just cried and cried. This has been so awful for her; she’s a very
positive person, but if I told you all the things that have happened
to her and are continuing to happen, just yesterday, her car broke
down for the second time. This car never had one problem for all the
time she’s had it and that is a long time. So now, she has no car
besides everything else. And I have to go back to school in a couple
of days or I will be kicked out, so she will be alone.
She is starting to be able to type again, at least, slow but sure. I
don’t believe that any number of bad things could make my mother
give up and I hope I’m right, but I worry.
What can I tell you? I thought that people would go to her website,
www.bongems.com and see her work, but then, I didn’t put that in the
letter and some people don’t know about email addresses showing the
website name. But last night I went there and, lo and behold, her
rotten husband had taken it off the web! Unfortunately, before she
left, she didn’t erase passwords from the computer they shared. My
mother did not do anything to his website, which she built. He has
changed the password for that website so my mother can’t even take
her name off of it. He probably thought my mother would do what he
did; wreck the website, but my mother is a lady and she is not
destructive even when, maybe, she should be. She would never do such
a thing. My mother stayed with him until this last time, because she
was afraid of what would happen to a woman almost 60 years old out on
her own. And all of the things she was afraid of have happened and
more. She had planned to set up her studio and work, once she healed
enough, and sell some things on ebay, too. Then, all of her things
got snowed in and we can’t get to them.
But she did bring her box of cut gemstones and we are going to start
listing them on ebay for sale. She has a lot of them and we are
going to explain why she is selling them. A lot of them are native
cut, but most all of them are so beautiful! It will be sad to part
with them, she’s been collecting for a while. Her ebay name is
bonbarbara, if anyone is interested in buying one or some, once they
are listed. We will offer a money back guarantee, so no one will feel
ripped off, if they don’t like what they receive.
Also, she just got permission from the person she is buying ten
acres of land from, to sell the land, so that will be listed, as
well, on ebay, probably today. He called while I am writing this.
Maybe one of you would like to buy a beautiful ten acre property in
Wisconsin. It’s half wooded and half clear and so pretty! Right on
the county road with utilities at the road. There is a very old
mobile home on it, but no electricity, water well or septic. It’s
supposed to have good hunting, according to the locals. You can look
up the listing later today under Land/ Wisconsin.
I can get a copy of the doctor’s certification of disability and fax
it or email it to you. I could, maybe, take a picture of my mother.
The situation is really real, Noel, it’s not a scam. My mother is
trying every resource she can find, just to get her through this
little time. Just a month or so and then she’ll be back on her feet.
Maybe sooner, if the land sells or a miracle happens.
I hope this helps and please let me know if there is anything more I
can tell you.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Ladd