This evening marks the 24th anniversary since the Wonderland murders. On this night, those many years ago, it would be the last evening four of the five people would ever spend here on earth. Everything was going to be great according to John when he left to go out that night, but we all know it didn’t turn out that way. Those four people never woke to see the sunrise again. All for what? A high?

I spoke to Sharon, to let her know I love her and hope she can sleep tonight. “I’ll be fine”, she tells me. But she can never sleep on this night, so I know she’ll be anything but fine. She will always be disgusted at the way John was involved, how he played a part in murder.

Thanks to Laura who made a comment here about how important it is to remember that the Wonderland gang, although very disturbed, were people too. That not only were their lives lost, but their families have had to endure terrible pain.

To Susan Launius who was left with the terrible wreckage of tragedy, may a world full of peace and blessings be yours.

Dawn

Part two—So Ho, New York. Enter the historical O.K. Harris Gallery and walk on the very wooden floors that exhibited an unknown artist by the name of Andy Warhol. Nostalgia whisks you to a time long gone as you walk through the expansive front entryway and under the high beamed ceiling sure you can hear a crowd who isn’t there admiring some ghostly art. Coming to the first private room on the right, here, in the very place that an also young Ivan Carp (aka, the Mayor of So Ho), who launched the neophyte Warhol, were placed a selection of oil paintings by my Uncle Rob. Rob March Harper received the honor of being showcased for a second time at this prestigious gallery and I couldn’t have been more proud of him. I love his work, (sorry I couldn’t post a photo). He is, in every sense of the word, a true artist. Always drawing, imagining, creating and teaching my daughter, his unique sense of what life is, has the power to challenge you to view the world in another dynamic and warm way. We are so proud of you Uncle Rob. Jade and I grandly stand before the OK Harris gallery, beaming.

We love you,
Dawn

Hello Everyone,

Just a quick note to tell you that after a long wait my friend, Val Kilmer, has officially opened his website to the public. Congratulations Val. It looks awesome!

Check it out at www.valkilmer.com, and if you are in London, go see him in The Postman Always Rings Twice. I wish I could, it has got to be great.

Take care,

Dawn

Blow me away! New York City is the best! I’m back from a great time in the Big Apple and I just know I have to go back. We had no where near enough time to see all this great city had to offer. Stepping out onto Times Square took me just to the edge of overwhelming. Concrete, steel and neon giants loomed high above us combining old deco and modern architecture to appear as breathtaking arms reaching into the clouds. Taxis dotted the streets with bright yellow as billboards flashed massive rainbows of animated advertisements, symbols and images. A wonderful bombardment of the senses and a real admiration and awe at the way my daughter showed true amusement and an immediate comfortableness with the busy surroundings.

“Toys R Us, Mom. I want to go to a Toys R Us!” she insisted.

I tried to gently distract her, not sure at all that we would find one. ‘Probably like finding a needle in a haystack’, I said to myself. We turned a corner and another, marveling loudly at the never ending display of buildings while my daughter stayed silently determined.

“Look, Mom! A Toys R Us! Over there!” I scanned the streets quickly and told her I was afraid there wasn’t one around, when she tugged me hard and pointed a good two blocks down and across the street. Sure enough, the largest Toys R Us in the US (at least) stood next to the ABC building.

“Oh my God! I can’t believe it. Leave it to her to find the largest toy store in New York. We have to go now!”

My Aunt, Uncle, daughter and I walked into an incredible maze of toys on five floors with a huge ferris wheel smack dab in the middle of the store. Now it was time for the adults in the group to turn into children, as we grabbed my daughter by the hand and forged right into the line for the ferris wheel. The line was quick and we got to sit in the My Little Pony car, just as we hoped for. Circling the levels of the store we watched a life size Tyrannosaurus Rex break into a real life roar, see Spiderman jump from wall to wall with his web, see a real Candyland (with lots of candy), witness the largest Barbie land ever, and gawk at a replica of the Empire State Building with King Kong hanging off it’s side made completely of Legos! Geeeezzzz, and this was only our first day! A fantasy right in the middle of Times Square! Ahhh, reliving it in memory is almost as wonderful.

Like I said, this was a great trip. Stay tuned for part two.

Dawn

(P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!)

I love Sundays. Especially Sundays in spring. Nothing is better than stepping out into my garden with a cup of coffee in the morning, lounging on the canoped swing in my pajamas, and taking count of the flowers returning since I last saw them in the fall. My Clematis is going to be an explosion of purple on my back fence, and a small transplanted pink rose bush that hasn’t flowered in two years is covered with tiny buds.
The weeds are taller than usual too this year, so I slip on some flip flops and start pulling the dandilions before my daughter sees them and decides to blow wishes all over the yard. (She calls them wish fairy blossoms. Need I say more?) After pulling a few of the bigger weeds, I saunter back over to the swing and the shade for another pull of my coffee and an easy sigh at the beauty around me. “What a great day”, I think contently as I stick my toes out into a patch of warm sunlight and take in the green of the surrounding hills. It is a Sunday among nature in my small backyard, when all feels right in the world and you know, without a doubt, that it is good.

God, I love Sunday mornings in spring.

Dawn

April ended with a march on our local campus to raise awareness of Sexual Assault in our community. Everyone was encouraged to wear denim (jeans) as well, in protest of a 1999 Italian ruling where the judge claimed that because a rape victim was wearing denim, she must have aided her assailant! The women of the Italian Parliment wore denim in a unified protest of the ruling. The movement grew and every year since, during April (Sexual Assault Awareness Month), women are encouraged to wear denim in a similar act of protest against ignorant myths of violent acts.

Here I am hugging our local shelter’s volunteer coordinator in front of the sign we marched behind. “Not On Our Campus!” Afterwards, we listened to many department heads pledge their support as well as hear many victims stand up and speak out! An emotional day…..

Went to a funeral today. What a sad thing. A friend, a gentle soul, passed away last Thursday. The chapel was packed, and not a dry eye in the house when a guitar solo played “Tears in Heaven”, by Eric Clapton. A biker with the name “Deacon” sewn on his leather vest presided over the service, but only after his sister got up to read a letter she had written to the little brother she lost and tell him how heartbroken she was that he could never overcome his addiction. “Not a mean bone in his body”, people shared at the end of the service, and “He always told you he loved you, even if you didn’t feel like anyone cared”. A sweet, kind man in his forties who battled with drugs and alcohol…and lost.

Some came drunk or loaded, but most didn’t. They came clean and sober, taking in the full impact of where drugs and alcohol can lead them if they didn’t take it seriously. I couldn’t help thinking about John and the lives lost at the Wonderland house…not to mention a few others that were close to me and died after those years in LA. It is real, it is never pretty and it is always permanent.

I know my friend tried his best all the way up to the end. It was just too tough for him. I remember his eyes. Deep inside I always saw how hard he tried to stay clean. I hope he doesn’t have to struggle anymore. I hope he is at peace.

Blessings,
Dawn

AND…Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Hello to everyone!

I have recently returned from good old “HOLLYWOOD” and wow the weather was beautiful. Not like the winter-like snow/hail/wind that we have been getting in my town. Only one draw back really….the traffic! Yikes.

I wanted to quickly let you all know that I have been catching up with all your posts and really appreciate all your comments. I will have to take some time to back track and answer as many as I can. I am blown away with all of your posts and I apologize if I miss any.

Also, I want to remind you to wear a teal ribbon in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month!

I will post more soon….promise.

Blessings,

Dawn

Did anyone think I’d have anything other than good wishes to send out today?

No, just kidding. I know I am predictable in this sense and thought I’d poke some fun at myself. So, in staying true to form….it has been a wonderful day! Gosh, I’m smiling big right now. Good company, prayer and food filled my day and I’m hoping all of you were able to enjoy what matters most to you as well. I have tons going on and if I stop to think about it, I can get overwhelmed. But at the end of the day, I feel great, content and happy with who I am. Of course my daughter, Easter bunnies and egg hunts might have something to do with it. Someone once told me, if it feels good, don’t question it….GO WITH IT! And today…I’m gone.

Many blessings to you and yours….always.

Dawn

I have been brainstorming with the staff and volunteers at my local Domestic Violence – Sexual Assault Shelter for ideas to bring to the table for April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The ribbons will be teal, there will be a parade, there may even be t-shirts….but we want more.

So, I propose to you dear readers…to you who know the pain, know someone close in pain, or simply have compassion for the injustice and want to put your voice out there for those who have had theirs stolen…HELP! Post you ideas, thoughts, poems, expressions from the heart, whatever you think might help. Post them here, and I will pass them along. You never know. You might be on to something big!

Blessing,

Dawn

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know
peace.” Jimi Hendrix