| Thursday, December 30, 1999 | |
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RE:
Katie's Accident From: "Robert D. Boyd" <bboyd@wmb-law.com> |
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Thank
you for your note. You and Shirley have my deepest sympathy for your loss.
I have talked to Shirley and I have left it up to her as to when she feels
up to moving ahead. I am sincerely sorry for your loss. ------------------------Original
Message-------------------------------- From:
Mitch Perry [mailto:mitch@perrysys.com] Mr.
Boyd, I
know you are aware that we lost our daughter this Christmas and that has
no impact on our divorce other that we used the money which was to be paid
to you, to buy the burial plots for Katie & Shirley instead. You will
be paid shortly, probably our of the life insurance check for Katie. That
is not why I write this letter. I have been struggling for the past few
days for the reason why Katie, at such a young age was taken from us. I
have struggled and struggled with making any sense out of this and could
not get the pictures of the car I took out of my head. On
the way home from the funeral today, something hit me, something that
seems obvious to me now, something that maybe makes her death worth while.
I couldn't believe Katie was gone and I was bearly injured, but in my
opinion, she is gone for one reason only. The call box she hit sheered off
and crushed the top of the car over her. I am not completely blaming the
state of Florida for bad call boxes, after all she did fall asleep at the
wheel and ran off the road. A
large portion of today's interstate travels have cellular phones, so these
may be as useful as watering holes for the pony express today. I think
they were installed because of the tourist crime problems earlier in the
decade. So complete removal
would be the best option, to remove a dangerous obstacle from the roadway.
But if they are really needed, here are 3 things I see that could
improve the safety of these boxes in the future: 1.
Move them further away from the road surface, this one was within 5 feet
of the pavement directly next to mile marker 148 Westbound I-10 Florida.
Maybe 20-30 feet away, so people who do drift off the road have a
opportunity to react before another fatality. 2.
Make them breakaway. There could be a hinge at the bottom of the pole that
would snap and allow the pole and call box to lay down and go under the
vehicle, rather than sheer off and go through the windshield or crush the
roof. 3.
Make the poles shorter or the top 10 feet more of like a flag, light
weight plastic that would shatter on contact rather than crush a victim. I
think this maybe the reason she died, to help save others in the future. I
only see one way to have that done, to sue the state of Florida. My goal
here is not to obtain riches but to make the roads safer for everyone
else. I know that may not make you happy, after all you make your money by
winning large judgements / settlements. So if it takes big money to get
there attention fine, but my half will all go to charity, Shirley can do
what she wishes with her half. By the way, Shirley and I have not talked
about this at all. My real
goal is to force change to make us safer. Thanks
for you time, Mitch Ps.
I have never sued anyone before, so I don't know where to start. |
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Katie From: Lu & Jane Cananza <lca254@airmail.net> |
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Mitch. So
sorry to hear about Katie's death. My
heart goes out to you and your family.
God is the only thing that can help you get through this sad time
right now. I will be
remembering you in my prayers. Jane
Cananza Dallas
Group NB'ers |
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[NewBug]
Thank-you Lord for Katie From: Mitch Perry <mitch@perrysys.com> |
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Yesterday
was a wonderful day for a funeral. The skies were perfectly clear and it
was in the 50s or 60s. Katie had allot of friends & family that came
to wish her well as she continues her journey through life. There were
silver ribbons on every car and over everyone's heart. I
wish to thank everyone who attended especially those who came from afar.
My parents, sister & nephew from central Florida, Katie's godfather
and another college friend of mine from Tallahassee, Florida, 15 of my
co-workers from Birmingham, some friends from Panama City & the
Atlanta area and many family a friends from the Augusta area. Finally
there was Russell (ElectricMohawk from the NB list and Maryland), who rode
a greyhound bus for 14 hours to be there.
I felt he represented everyone else who wish they had been there
and was typical of a Katie fan. She touched everyone in a special way, if
you spent 5 minutes with Katie you would remember her for the rest of your
life for her charm, spirit and enthusiasm.
Russell met Katie during our last road trip in DC. We met 5 New
Beetles and gave away a giant Herbie, then caravaned down to Mount Vernon
for the tour and finally spent the evening in Old Towne Alexandria for
pizza, ice cream & fun times. He may have spent an hour with her
during the day chatting. That one-day with an angel changed his life for
the better. Thank you Russell for being there for my little angel. I
wish to thank everyone for the Flowers, gifts and the huge number of
email. I have read everyone but have not had the time to respond.
I hope to accumulate them somehow and print a booklet of them. My
wife and I have been deeply touched by the outpouring of affection toward
our daughter. The fact that people all around the world put silver ribbons
on the car antennas for Katie or took a moment yesterday to pray for her
at 1 PM is deeply touching. I have seen mention of dedicating R2K
(http://www.roswell2k.org/) or having a tribute there for Katie and I
think that she would love that. But Katie would what people to be happy
and help her celebrate her life not mourn her death, so it needs to be an
uplifting, cheerful activity. I
was going to replace Katie's 99 Silver New Beetle with a new NB TDI. But
yesterday it came to me that Katie's NB needs to go to R2K for her. So
Angelisa Rheanna Stardust will be attending the activities. She will have
a few modifications that Katie was planning before the event; an arched
wing, tinted windows and an airbrushed angel on her hatch. Today
is a wonderful day, if you have kids, give them and extra hug today from
Katie, her mom and me. If you have parents do the same (it works both
ways, trust me). Love, Mitch |
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[NewBug]
sorry and sad. From: "Sonney Hinson" <bigdog@yournet.com> |
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Mitch we
are sorry to hear about your lost. Our prayers are also with you. Even
though we didn't know Katie only through the digest we feel sad.
Donna, BaBy |
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RE:
[NewBug] Thank-you Lord for Katie
From: "Fernandez, Theresa" <t-fernandez@ti.com> |
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Mitch, Just
wanted to let you know I added a memorial page for Katie on my site
http://www.vwworld.com/ called For Katie I
imagine that she is up in Heaven right now, making friends and sharing
stories of her adventures.....I hope she runs into my grandfather, they
would get a kick out of each other! Theresa
& Newton |
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Katie From: stasko-breheny@mindspring.com |
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Mitch, I
was so sorry to hear of your loss. I'm
sure it has been very difficult for you these past few days.
After reading of your adventures this past year, it feels like I
knew Katie. Susan and I are
planning to attend the memorial service next week.
Mitch, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Please
extend my condolences to Shirley. In
sympathy, Denise |
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[NewBug]
LOSS OF AN ANGEL: KATHERINE
From: ThesignStudio <thesign@onda.com.br> |
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Ola,
Mitch! Perdoe-me
antecipadamente por escrever-lhe em minha propria lingua, mas o que
podemos fazer num momento desses? E dificil para mim tentar uma traducao! Estranho-me
pensando em como nos somos,bem, "preparados" para confrontar a
perda dos nossos pais mas absolutamente despreparados para a perda de
nossos descendentes...:^( Mais
estranho eu me senti, chorando,quando tive a oportunidade de ler a sua
carta enviada para nos, isso raramente acontece comigo. Muito dificil!
Nao
sou nada religioso, mas eu tenho me percebido pensando em voce, mesmo
tendo a estranha certeza que JAMAIS
o conhecerei pessoalmente, ou a qualquer um de voces, adoraveis Amigos do
Fusca... (
Homepages ajudam, mas pessoalmente e insusbstituivel... ) Estou
PROFUNDAMENTE triste por causa de sua carta.
E lhe AGRADECO profundamente por ter causado esta tristeza em mim,
nesses dias alardeados como "felizes". Gracas
a sua carta, eu redefini alguns de meus sentimentos entre as pessoas que
merecem
todo meu amor, a vida e taAao absolutamente curta! Voce
me fez lembrar sobre os "Motivos da Data" ( como o amigo BRUCE
disse ), entre
tantas seducoes materialistas, nossos carros inclusives...
Não
tenho mais nada a dizer_________:-X Conte
com um amigo, milhares de kms distante e extremamente proximo de voce!
YOU'VE
GOTTA FRIEND IN BRASIL! Christian
Steagall-Condé |
Hi,
Mitch! Anticipated
sorry to write to you in my own language, but what we can do in this
moments? It is hard to me to try a translation! I
feel strange thinkings in how we are, well, "prepared" to
confront the loss of
our parents, but absolutely unprepared from loss one of our
descendents...:^( Much
strange I feel myself, coming to tears, when I had the opportunity to read
your letter sended to us, this hard happens to me. This is very rare! I
am not religious, but I had catched myself thinking about you, even
getting the weirdest certainty that I NEVER will meet you in personal,
even each of you, lovable NB Fellows... (Homepages
helps, but in person it is unreplaceble....) I
am DEEPLY sad, thanks to your letter. And I THANK YOU deeply to cause this
sadness
in me, in this days known as "happy". Thanks
to your letter, I redefine some of my feelings among the peoples which deserves
all of my love, life is so00o absolutely short! You
just make me to remember about the "Reason of The Season" ( Like
our friend BRUCE told us ) among so much materialistically seductions, our
cars included... I
have nothing more to say ______________:-X Count
with a friend, miles & miles away and very close to you! VOCE
TEM UM AMIGO NO BRASIL! Christian
Steagall-Condé |
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Re:[NewBug]
Thank-you Lord for Katie From:
Randy Carlson <bugnbox@earthlink.net> |
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Mitch
Perry wrote: >
I was going to replace Katie's 99 Silver New Beetle with a new NB TDI. But
yesterday it came to me that Katie's NB needs to go to R2K for her. So
Angelisa Rheanna Stardust will be attending the activities. She will have
a few modifications that Katie was planning before the event; >
an arched wing,... Mitch, Can
I supply this for you? It's on the house. Just
let me know and I'll get one out to you whenever you are ready for it. "Happy
Motoring" Randy
Carlson TVA
New Beetle Accessories 714-792-3975 |
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[NewBug]
Mitch's gift From: "Laura" <llgrafix@concentric.net> |
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O.K
Everybuggy, Here's
an idea for you to commemorate the memory of the list's Angel Katie at
R2K. Tell me if it is a good one, K? For all the people who have put a
silver ribbon in their car in the memory of Katie, send it or bring it to
Roswell and have a little green evergreen tree there to put them all on.
It would be in memory of her and the lives she touched. And after the
event, give them to Mitch so he can see how many people love her and
remember her as a special person. I can't be at Roswell, but I can send
the ribbon hanging on Cricket's rear view mirror, and it should be with
all the other ribbons that are reminding us all of this special angel. Her
life and tragic death has effected everyone who has lost a treasured loved
one, I know it has for me, this would be a way for list members who cannot
attend to participate. Anyone else think this would be a good thing? Laura
and Cricket |
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[NewBug]
Christmas Angel From: michelle <flower@techie.com> |
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Dear
Mitch, You
and I have never met. I am one of the hundreds of subscribers to the
newbug list and I have posted probably ten times in as many months. Maybe
you don't remember me, but I certainly remember you and your daughter.
Although generally a "lurker," I look forward to the hundreds of
emails generated daily by these people which share with me a passion for
the vehicle which we drive. I read with anticipation details of your
driving tour over the summer. I went often to your website to view
pictures of Katie and you all over the country. I was so impressed by your
wonderful visual journal of your excursions! Then,
this past Monday at work, I read of the terrible tragedy that happened on
Christmas Day. I was stunned to say the least. How can something like this
happen to such a wonderful, vibrant young person? Life doesn't make sense
sometimes. There
I was at work [which is very slow due to the season] and my boyfriend has
the week off. Armed with the realization that Life is too precious to take
for granted and that ruts are too easily maintained, I decided to ask for
the rest of the week off. I just couldn't justify why I shouldn't be at
home spending time with the person I love most in the world. We just never
know what's going to happen tomorrow. For
the past four days, I have been struggling with what to say to a person
whom I've never met [and the hundreds of others who will be reading this],
but whose life has affected me so profoundly. You and Katie have taught me
to stop taking my Life for granted -- to "seize the day." I
am so very, very sorry this happened. I wish I could take away the pain.
But I want to thank you for sharing your story with all of us. I cannot
imagine how difficult it must have been to tell us what happened that
fateful day, but you have allowed hundreds of us to share your burden and
offer our condolences. Thank you for allowing us to share our strength,
prayers, and love with you and your friends and family. This community
amazes me sometimes. Please
take care, Michelle
and Flower |
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Re:
[NewBug] Thank-you Lord for Katie
From: Randy Carlson <bugnbox@earthlink.net> |
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Your
right...it would look pretty strange on the house. I think Katies bug would
be a better place for it. Keep
up the good humor...it's the only way to go! Expect
the wing shortly. "Happy
Motoring" Randy
Carlson TVA
New Beetle Accessories 714-792-3975 Mitch
Perry wrote: >
Yes, I will get it from you, but I really think it would look funning on a house,
so you need to take it off anyway:) |
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Re:
[NewBug] Thank-you Lord for Katie
From: Randy Carlson <bugnbox@earthlink.net> |
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Crazy, I'm
sorry to hear about that too! They say stuff like this happens in
three's... The
wing is on it's way to you...you should get it in a few days unless the world
melts into goo tomorrow night (maybe that's number 3...yikes!) Take
care and let me know if I can help in any way. It will be cool to see the car in Roswell (and you too of
course). "Happy
Motoring" Randy
Carlson TVA
New Beetle Accessories 714-792-3975 |
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[NewBug]Thank-you
Lord for Katie
From: Vincent Colombo <vince@starkimages.com> |
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Mitch, I
don't know you outside of your recent postings, and never knew Katie, but
it sounds like she touched allot of people. I'm sorry for your loss and
just wanted you to know that, even without knowing either of you, your
message left me teary-eyed. Katie will obviously live on in many people's
hearts and memories. Vince |
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R2Katie From: newbug@webtv.net (Herb Marshall) |
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Mitch,
Katie is so proud of you and happy for you to have found so much strength.
You are an inspiration to us all. It is so wonderful that her '99 silver
NB will be at R2K. Like you say, this will make her happy. I'm giving my
kids some special love today. Thank you Mitch and bless you. Herb &
Luvbeet, (with a silver ribbon.) |
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message
from spooky:) From: Spooky4623@aol.com |
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Mitch, My
condolences. I was heartbroken to read of your loss. I have read your many
posts on the list, as I, like you, have been on from
the get go, and I've seen the joy you shared with your daughter on
your nutty trips 'round the States. I am glad for them, and I am glad
you're alive. I was heartened to see you've accepted that Katie is in a
better place, my best wishes to you and yours, keep your heart strong. She
was lucky to have a dad who was so cool to hang around !:O)
Love and light,
spooky (omar cuellar)
Miami, Fl |
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Hi
Honey!! From: Inez E Hendrix <mscricket@juno.com> |
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How
are you doing?? We want to tell you and Shirley have done a great job for
the loss of Katie. We were so sorry and hated it we could not be by your
sides in all the trouble. You
and Shirley have allot of friends and relatives who stood by you. Mitch you were save for some great reason to keep you here
and to be with Shirley. Ann
and we are proud of you. I
have forward a lot of your messages to the family and kept up with it. But
surely hate I cant get the picture and cards but Ann will send them to me.
I have kept this comp hot. I
am so glad that you and Donnie got together and could talk. Are you all
set for the YK hope you don’t have to much stacked up on you. Did
you rent a car?? did i understand that you were going to get Katie car
after it is fixed. But Mitch and glad she did hit a family and killed them
also. She is a sweet child
and she is in good hands now and will have a lots to do up there taking
care of the other families there. I am proud our family gave you all a lot
of support. Glad Shirley is
with Tricia instead at home by herself.
Save the pictures at the memorial and I am sure you will enjoy
meeting some of her friends you all did not know. Again I am so glad you
were with her and she not be by herself.
Do you have a phone in your apt??
Ann wanted to know she would call you. Send it to me and I will
have it and I will send it to her. Take care of yourself and don’t work
too hard and we are praying for you honey.
You are a brave one!! Let us hear from you With
love Cricket |
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Re:
[NewBug] Altitude From:
"Robert Easley" <reasley@goldrush.com> |
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>
Hey Bob, > >
Sounds like you and I are in the same boat.
I broke my leg (actually the big and little bone also) in Nov.
A titanium plate, 5 screws later, they tell me that I will be
walking by March. How'd you
get so lucky to only hafta wait til Feb? ;-)!
This is a drag, isn't it? I've
gotten quite depressed at times, but when I think of Mitch and Katie, I
feel very lucky even if I do have to hop everywhere I go! >
Ester and Tin Man > Ester My
break is not nearly as bad as yours. I just knocked a golf ball size chunk
off the big bone where it
cups the ankle. The bone guy thinks that it will reattach by Feb. Yes, it
is depressing, but the pain meds are interesting. You
are right about Mitch and Katie. I hesitated in even posting the info. It
is a terrible thing to loose a loved one. Particularly one that is just
getting a start on life. My daughters are close in age to Katie and it
hurts to think about that possibility. They have each gotten major league
hugs since Monday. Bob,
Terry & Millie |
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Re:
[NewBug] Mitch's gift From: "Tina Ward" <tward@bscn.com> |
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>>
For all the people who have put a silver ribbon in their car in the memory
of Katie, send it or bring it to Roswell and have a little green evergreen
tree there to put them all on<< And
it would be nice to have the
person put their name and location on the ribbon.
, --'---,
,-/_____\-,
(o\_\X/_/o) Ladybug ; )
'-' ° ° '-' SYIR Tina
Ward tward@bscn.com Muleskinner
Farm Walnut
Ridge Arkansas |
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Re:
[NewBug] Mitch's gift From: "Robert Easley" <reasley@goldrush.com> |
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I
like the tree idea. We can provide a tree from our tree farm here in
California. Where does it get planted after Roswell? Bob,
Terry & Millie >>
For all the people who have put a silver ribbon in their car in the memory
of Katie, send it or bring it to Roswell and have a little green evergreen
tree there to put them all on. |
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Just
thought I'd say Hi From: fkern@us.ibm.com |
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Mitch, How
are you doing? I
spent most of the day working on cars - again. I was playing around making and wiring an indicator for the
rear foglamp on my Z3 in the instrument cluster and finally put it up on
stands for the winter. I also
worked on a gauge panel for a buddy of mine.
It snowed overnight, and the roads were sloppy, so NB didn't even
stick his nose out of the garage. You
have been talking about Blue Eyes. His
twin was the first NB in our parking lot at work.
I met his owner, Dan Fischer, last winter and we stood around in
the freezing cold and dark for about an hour last winter talking about New
Beetles. Since then I have become good friends with Dan. We have a
designated NB parking area at work, and Dan is usually there with a black
GL and my yellow NB. In fact,
Dan saw me driving back from the dealer after I (finally) got my NB and
e-mailed me immediately. When
I responded and told him I had driven the New^2 Beetle to work, he came
bounding right over to look at it. Now
when I see him, it will be a reminder of you, Katie and Blue Eyes. If
you can manage a trip to New England, you've got a place to stay. Fred
Kern |
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[NewBug]
Wish for the new year From:
"Nancy S. Breland" <nbreland@tcnj.edu> |
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It
has been a difficult week for us old timers, lurkers and new members of
the list, as we all have tried to sort out our thoughts about Katie's
death. Grieving as part of an
internet community is a new experience. I have been comforted by the many
thoughtful words shared by list members, and agree with
Michelle and Flower that this is an amazing, supportive community.
I am sure mine was not the only keyboard wet with tears, especially
as I read Mitch's account of Katie's funeral, and the journey of
ElectricMohawk.. I
wish peace for Mitch, and everyone on the list, in the new year. Nancy
Breland and Rosebug |
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[NewBug]
Mitch and Katie From: Roxanne Minch <pperone@umich.edu> |
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Sorry
to have just heard about your loss. From what I have read from others on
the list it sounds like you were a great Dad and wonderful role model.
Katie may
have had her life shorten.... but while she was with us she had and gave
love more than most of us do in a lifetime. Condolences
to you and your family. Paty
and Kermie |
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