When Jaycee Lee Dugard was found in late August of 2009, you called me at school to tell me. You were ecstatic and happy and marveling at the miracle of it all. When I came home, you were crying as the details became available because they were just so overwhelming and devastating. You were eleven years old and in a local television show at the time of her abduction. You and your TV news reporter partner traveled to South Lake Tahoe to interview Jaycee's parents. They were so broken and so understandably desperate to find her. Her mother kept looking at you and then remarked that you looked so much like Jaycee. You were the same age, size, and had the same hair and eye color. You had freckles and healed over pierced ear holes just like Jaycee. And you both had that gap between your front teeth. Her mother asked if you would consider making a reenactment film of her abduction. I did not want you to because it seemed like it would be such a traumatic event. But you kept insisting that it's what I would want if you were missing, to have anyone help anyway they could. And there was no talking you out of it. We came back a few days later and the whole scene at their house had changed to a "set". When they dressed you in Jaycee's clothes and took you up to the top of the hill to practice having the car block you as you were walking to the bus stop, it was surreal. There were cameras and crews at the top and bottom of the hill. We were down below watching on a small monitor. When Kameron saw it as it was acted out, it apparently became very real for him. Even though he knew intellectually it was acting and you were not in harm's way, he instinctively took off running up that long, steep hill. And, as fast as he was, he could not reach you in time. That's when we knew the stepfather was telling the truth, that he had tried to run to her but was too late. Unfortunately, after all the years she was missing, many people felt he must be guilty and the truth would never be known. It turned out to be worse that anyone had imagined. But you remembered that incident with your hero, Kameron, and after she was found, you said that now people will know he was an innocent, grieving dad all along. You were angry that the kidnappers plead not guilty and would put Jaycee and her family through a long trial. Well, at the last minute, they both plead guilty and on June 2, 2011, Philip Garrido was sentenced to 431 years imprisonment; his wife received 36 years to life. Justice? You and I know there is none in these heinous cases. I'm so sorry there was no justice for you. In a twist of irony that you would find funny and infuriating at the same time, I was called for jury duty soon after your passing. I checked the box to be excused due to a death in the immediate family. I then received a request for a copy of your death certificate which I mailed immediately. A few months later, guess what arrived in the mail? A jury summons for you! I was amazed that the system that wouldn't help me when I wanted a missing persons report filed could spend time, money and resources to require your presence at that dreaded courthouse even after they had received your death certificate. So, just so you know, since the followup paperwork appears not to have made it back to them (hmmm), there's a notice for you to appear for not doing your civic duty. Wow, our Kenna, a fugitive from justice. Irony at it's best and worst. Kameron posted on his Facebook page that it probably wouldn't be a good idea for them to show up at your mother's house looking for you.
Ritorno a me
Cara mia, ti amo
Solo tu, solo tu, solo tu
Solo tu, mio cuore
Dean Martin's Return to Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_mqIaWKsBQ&feature=related
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