I went to Maddy Middleton's memorial service yesterday, and felt it was a strong tribute to a wonderful young girl and her family. I hope that people still check in and help Maddy's mother and family, as their grief will go through many stages and they will need continued support.
As much as I tried not to, I could not help think of Maddy's last hour of life at times, especially as I saw her many photos. I pray she was unconscious, for she was not dead when she was placed in the recycling bin, but died of "positional asphyxia". It sickens me: when I looked at pictures of her, I wondered why people are born into this world only to be killed by others, and in ways that boogle the mind for sheer cruelty.
I keep thinking of the times Maddy and Thistle playing in the playground at the Tannery, how cute Maddy was with her in the few times they played together. I think of Thistle telling AJ Gonzalez (the young man who killed Maddy) that she had a yo yo at home. Maddy was such a small child, and the thought of what he did to her haunts me, and sickens me, and strengthens my resolve to work in whatever way I can to help make this world safer in some way.
There is a good article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel about the memorial service here:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/obituaries/20150823/maddy-celebrated-with-music-howling
My name is Joan McMillan and this blog is, as Emily Dickinson says, "my letter to the world." I am currently working on a nonfiction book about the murder of a young woman, Asha Veil, born Joanna Dragunowicz, and her unborn daughter, Anina, on September 9, 2006. My book is meant to honor her life and illuminate the need to create a safer world for women and children.
To read an excerpt from the book, please click on the following link:
ashaveilbook.blogspot.com
An excerpt from The Pleasure Palace, my romantic comedy, can be found here:
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