Black Composition Book - #0

Transcription:
PROLOGUE

February 20, 1994 8:06 PM

Neil was laying in bed listening to his Nirvana CD. It was then that he finally realized what his destiny was, but unfortunately it would take several days of careful planning for it to be completed.

His first item to be completed was his ultimate destination. Since Neil could not decide upon this, he decided to find a temporary residence instead. It wasn't until a few days later did he decide to go to the islands in the Caribbean. now he just needed to disappear from the face of the earth.

BOOK ONE

CHAPTER ONE

In order to vanish Neil needed to work out some minor details about how soon he could.

First he had to withdraw his $2,987.51 from his savings account at NSWC Federal Credit Union. But that could wait until he had gotten [to] Fredericksburg. Then he needed to wait until the BMW had a full tank of gas because the Suburban didn't get that good of gas mileage. Of course he had to have clothes to wear. He decided to take a wide range of clothes, everything from a blue suit to cut off blue jean shorts. He also packed survival supplies that included a pump .22 rifle, several knifes [sic], two compasses, several maps, a survival booklet, a whistle, and camouflage. He took a .380 caliber automatic pistol made by Llama. It had a seven-round clip full of hollow points. But this was to be used for self-defense only. Neil packed an internal frame backpack with a tent, rope, water bottles, straps, and two carabiners. he also took an axe and a shovel handle. And that was all of the big items he took.

CHAPTER TWO

Neil had finally decided upon a date of action, March 18. He had nearly a month of planning so the trip would have to be a success. The only things he had to do before departing were to withdraw his money, pack his stuff, say good-bye to his friends, fill the gas tank, and to renew his passport. He had one week left before he started his class of Vanishing, 101.

CHAPTER THREE

It was now Friday, March 18. Neil had less than 12 hours before he left home forever. In the past week he had withdrawn all $2,987.51 from his account, he had gotten his passport, and the BMW was full of gas.

In school Neil turned in all his books. He said good-bye to some of his close friends like "the Duke" [John Gilmore] , "Beckskew" [Becky Boyd] , "M2" [that's M squared] [Mandy Minichiello] , "Harley" [Amanda Clift] , "Not So Tiny Tim" [Tim Goerlitz] , "Always Ready Freddie" [Freddy Sweet] , and "Wrong Way Soto" [Richard Soto]. he only said good-bye to one teacher, Mr. "P," [John Picariello] before he went home.

When Neil got home, the only thing he had to do was put his stuff in the BMW. Since he had already told his dad he was going out tonight, all he did was leave a note that he was leaving a little early to do some shopping.

It was 3:33 PM, Friday, March 18, 1994. It was time to depart.

CHAPTER FOUR

Neil woke with a start. For a few seconds he thought he was back home in his bed. Then he realied that he wasn't at home. In fact he was nowhere near home. Neil was in his motel room in Perth, Ontario.

He had driven through the night hoping to make [it] to at least Canada.

Interpretation:
Well this was painful to transcribe. Not only because I could feel the emotions I had at the time I wrote it but also because of the insane lack of spelling, grammar, and writing skills. Makes me want to gag at how poorly written this was. But, it was written. Thus it must live on in infamy as a point in history for all others to learn by.

References:
- Richard, Neil. (1994). Untitled. Private Collection.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.

Joy in the Journey - Wednesday, May 7, 1997

Transcription:
Wednesday, May 7, 1997

Dear Father,

Thank-You for sending your son, Jesus Christ. What an unbelievable awesome gift. Serella wants desperately to help me to be able to send "E-Mail" on my computer. She sent one message to Gould - it worked - and now nothing works - that is, the "code" doesn't isn't accepted. Please help me to know where to seek further assistance. Thank-You.

We went to Monterey to the Aquarium. Linda (Sereno) and Amy came to visit. Thank-You, Lord, for all friends, family and loving experiences. Amen

Interpretation:
For those of you who have not visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium, we highly recommend it. While we did find some video of the Aquarium in 1997, we highly doubt that Dorothy or Serella were visible in them. We did attempt to locate Linda Sereno but had no luck.

Most interesting to us was the mention of email. Seeing as this is early 1997, email was still young. We wish we were there just to see what kind of trouble they were having with getting the "code" to work.

References:
- Hollingsworth, D. B. (1997). Joy in the Journey. Private Collection.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.

Joy in the Journey - Tuesday, May 6, 1997

Transcription:
Tuesday, May 6, 1997

Dear Lord,

Again I neglected writing. My glasses are better, after spending time at the mall while Lenscrafters put in a lens not so heavy. I took Serella to San Juan Bautista for lunch + to "shop." She found a shirt we liked. Thank-You for another beautiful day! Amen.

Interpretation:

We are still curious who Serella is and how she knew Dorothy.

References:
- Hollingsworth, D. B. (1997). Joy in the Journey. Private Collection.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.

Joy in the Journey - Monday, May 5, 1997

Transcription:
Monday, May 5, 1997

Dear Father God,

I neglected writing to You, I was able to drive to the Monterey Airport, meet Serella and bring her home. We have been friends so long! Dear friends are such a gift! Thank-You!     Amen

Oh yes. We went to Watsonville and had a lunch at a Mexican Restaurant in Watson-ville Square where I checked on my new pants. Thank-You for giving me courage and con-fidence to drive these places. Amen


Interpretation:
We found it interesting that she was happy to have the "courage and confidence" to drive around Watsonville, California. Some of us wish we knew what she had for lunch with her friend.

References:
- Hollingsworth, D. B. (1997). Joy in the Journey. Private Collection.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.

Joy in the Journey - Sunday, May 4, 1997

Transcription:
Sunday, May 4, 1997


Dear Lord,


Another beautiful day! Wow! Ted + I were often gone at this time of year, so didn't enjoy so many lovely days here in our home in the spring.


Right now, Lord, I pray for [redacted] that he will want to fly here this summer with his Uncle [redacted], if this is Your Will, of course. Please let [redacted], [redacted] + [redacted] make the decision You want. Amen. (Continued)


Gould wants Serella to take a bus instead of the plane, for which she has a ticket. Dear Lord, please guide Serella and Gould in this situa-tion. I expect her to visit from tomorrow to Friday. May Your Will be done. May they have a peaceful decision.


Thank-You for family and friends, and with Your Love I don't feel so lonely. Yes, I came into this world alone and will leave alone, but meanwhile what gifts you have given me, loving people all the wry way! Praise be unto You. Amen.

Interpretation:

It is interesting that she continues to pray for her grandson to come visit. We have yet to determine why this is so important to her, other than the obvious desire to visit. Also of note is a rare misspelling of the word "way." She later came back with a different color ink to correct it, apparently on the next day.

Also of interest was her comment about coming into this world alone and leaving alone. She passed away with her family surrounding her.


References:
- Hollingsworth, D. B. (1997). Joy in the Journey. Private Collection.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.

Joy in the Journey - Saturday, May 3, 1997

Transcription:
Saturday, May 3, 1997


Dear Father God,


Hmmm, I locked myself out of the car + the house! That's a first! But, I walked up the steep hill to church (where I planned to be at 7:00 A.M.), called Teddy. He came up + joined Men's Breakfast, then brought me home from where I'd been working on the Yard Sale (in front of church). Here were mark, Ben, Sylvester, Travis + Carrie working hard, carrying wood down from the hill! Later Beth and Kristina joined them. What a wonderful sight to see their teamwork! They stayed from 8:00 A.M. + 10:00 A.M. till noon. Thank-you, Lord, for their dedication, hard work + HELP!!! Thank-You for this gorgeous day. Now guide me as I do Your will the rest of the day. Amen.

Interpretation:
The big even here was clearly getting locked out of the car and house. Outside of that, it sounds like the kids from her church helped move some wood on the hill above her house.

References:
- Hollingsworth, D. B. (1997). Joy in the Journey. Private Collection.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.

Joy in the Journey - Friday, May 2, 1997

Transcription:
Friday, May 2, 1997


Good-Morning, Lord!


Thank-you for Nicole, our teacher in Aquacise. She asked me today if I am a Christian. It shows - thank-you, thank-you so much that I am growing in your Love, adn I am trying to be more obedient to Your Will. I pray today for Gayle + Bobby as they are with Irma, Bobby's sister who is fighting leukemia. I ask you to comfort Marian. Guide Mark B. as he works with our (church) teens + boys at the "home" where he works also. I pray for Ivan, Sylvester + Travis specifically. I pray for Betty Bell -- give her peace, Lord. I pray for Willie and Alfred and for Idella + Richard their grandparents. Please be with [redacted] + his attorney, with [redacted] + her attorney. Please let this divorce situation be resolved for the best for all, particularly [redacted], [redacted] + [redacted].


If it is Your will, help us to know how, + when to have [redacted] + [redacted] fly here this summer.


Thank-You, Jesus, for giving your life for all of us. How unbelievably awesome. Thank-You, Holy Spirit for being here and now to guide us with each step of the way.


Now, please guide me as I bathe, dress and drive to Watsonville to have lunch with Emma, and yes, I pray for Danny + Emma - and for "my" [redacted] + and his throat + for "my" [redacted] and her physical problem. Thank You, Lord. Amen.


Interpretation:
We redacted several names of people, both living and deceased, to protect their privacy. Some background on Gayle and Bobby and his sister Irma. Gayle and Bobby were married at the time and traveled from their home in Pennsylvania to Irma's home in Maryland. They arrived an hour after she died. Irma, and her husband Ronald, lived in Southern Maryland next to Bobby and Irma's mother. Ronald was a former Marine. They had a white dog and a poly-dactyl cat. Their house had a screened in porch and a basement. Their kitchen had a small table where they'd listen to the radio while eating breakfast.


We found it odd that she mentions that she's going to "bathe" but we have determined that this was just the way she thought, spoke, and wrote.


In our research, we were unable to locate or identify any other names listed.


References:
- Hollingsworth, D. B. (1997). Joy in the Journey. Private Collection.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.

Joy in the Journey - Thursday, May 1, 1997

Transcription:
Thursday, May 1, 1997


Good-Morning again, dear God,


It is a gorgeous day, + now as I get ready to volunteer at the hospital, help me to do + say what pleases You with each patient + worker today as I do whatever is most important.

Interpretation:
A very short entry for this day. We do not know which hospital she volunteered at.

References:
- Hollingsworth, D. B. (1997). Joy in the Journey. Private Collection.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.

Joy in the Journey - June 7, 1994

Transcription:

June 7, 1994


Water

Ps. 1:3

Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, 'Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.---

----48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."


Wow! What a goal!

Interpretation:
This page was folded over and is between April 30, 1997 and May 1, 1997. Clearly written well before the two entries on either side. It also appears to have been a rough draft of some sort as it appears to be incomplete. Maybe notes or something that were written but forgotten until later.

References:

- Hollingsworth, D. B. (1997). Joy in the Journey. Private Collection.

- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.