Plane Crash News

Dear Lucille,I am up at 5 AM here. I just finished pouring over the giant Atlas to learn a little geography. Very bad news, as far as the geography is concerned. Apparently the straghtest route to Chengdu from Amsterdam is a path through Turkey, Iran and on to Chengdu or possibly to Indonesia.From online reports I learned that on the 29th August an Iranian flight B747 from/to Kuala Lumppar to/from Tehran had to stop in Bandar Abbas (Bandar Shah?) because of a technical difficulty. So possibly passengers from that flight tried to make connecions from Bandar Abbas on the September 1.

Another online report concerned Iran Airtours Tu-154 from Bandar Abbas to Mashhad on September 1. It was to/from Tabriz in Iran near Turkey. It skidded and 29 passengers were lost. Mashhad is a city with flights to/from Amsterdam. So possibly, passengers on this flight, possibly along with some passengers from the other flight B747, were on the plane. And there is every possibility, Shayne or her companions could have been on either of the flights, considering the dates of the mishaps.

I also took note of a recent report about mobile phones and laptops being left by passengers in the airports, broadcasted and published on September 1. The message seem to be: Mobile phones can work even after people have lost them, because the phones are often left behind in the airports and never reclaimed by the owners. The bearing this report has to my situation is that I know Shayne's voice mail has changed since I last talked to her. And I know personally, that the choice of music changed on September 1, because between two attempts I made to reach her the music went from her usual theme to another theme.

So I must keep pursuing this matter to learn if Shayne is o.k. What I have never been able to express clearly is the feeling I have that it is always necessary here that I almost "write a dissertation" just to learn vital facts about something that most people are readily given without any trouble. Just the fact that I haven't reached Shayne on her telephone and that Thomas didn't find her in her house. That I had to seek out the route to China to know what planes she could have possibly been on. All this work to learn if my daughter is alive or dead. It is exhausting and embittering. I know I have been in a conspiracy to undermine my intelligence.

The phone changes could have been made by Shayne. That is my only hope. I think her "kidnappers" are preventing or discouraging her from using her mobile in order to determine if they must release her or if they can hurt her and no one could be blamed. As long as I can't determine whether she could have an accident, then her life could be taken on purpose (meaning no insurance policy would cover it) and she could become "missing" again, even during this interim before she "reappears."I believe that is that is one motive, at least, for these "hide and seek" games.

More Exchanges

Dear Shayne,I hope this letter reaches you and finds you in good humor and health. After talking with you on the telephone, I sort of blanked out, because I was confused about the Postbank problem. I do not know why it took so long for my deposit to be finalized. Then at the last moment today, I thought I should try to put more money into your account but it was too late. Thomas said he told you to call him, if you still need money. I hope you remembered that! I called you (via Internet) yesterday and today but you were unavailable (according to your Voice). I could not even leave a voice message.

I will deposit 200 dollars tomorrow, Saturday, into your account. You can pay me back later.Since usuually when you go away, you have to receive more money, don't you think you should give me your travel details before you go and make it easier for people to help you? I get upset when I think you don't trust me and that you always rely on the "kindness of strangers (meaning non-relatives)." I hope your travelling companions were able to help you, especially if you never received the money we transferred. I believe the Postbank has been very dishonest in imposing two "holds" on your account, one in April and one at the end of July. If you get back in good shape this time, I hope you will consider opening up a new bank account somewhere else and keep the details of your account to yourself--don't report the account to other institutions or people. You might need some legal help, if the "hold" is truly unjust. When you travel with little money, the "deurwaarder" might put an unjust "hold" on your account, supposing that you might not return to defend yourself. It is always a risk to travel. Something could befall you. The "deurwaarder" seems to count on that.If you have a generous insurance policy, on the other hand, the Postbank will fear if something happened to you, because they won't want to pay the premium, if you know what I mean. I say this, because I believe there are dishonest employees at the Postbank who pretend they are "deurwaarders" and who put unjustifiable "holds" on your account, because no one ever challenges the holds. By the way, the Beheer Groep never answered my email. I will call them on Monday. Hope Hong Kong still looks good. Will see you soon.

Before this, I wrote:
Dear Shayne,I leant you 750 euro's giving you about 100 or so euro's and I just learned that Thomas has leant you 500 euro's. I haven't yet received any verification from you. I hope you are all right. I wrote the "Beheer Groep" today for an explanation.Be prudent, careful and watchful until you get back.Love, Rada

I also wrote:
Dear Shayne,I am not mad at you. I just wish for reassurance that you are ok. I still would like the full names of your travelling companions, in case you need my help, any time, during your trip.The tone and style of your letters sometimes varies and I want to make sure it is to you, I am addressing myself.Some things you have stated are truly puzzling to me, but this is not the time to quibble over discrepancies, as you might very well be perfectly okay. Maybe your companions are trustworthy. I hope so.

It was so hard for me to contact you this past year! I feared for your happiness, health and safety. I have been struggling hard--real hard-- to help myself get better. For a while, my breasts became as big as bowling balls. They are still disapportionately large. They are a real health hazard. Health is so hard to keep in this day and age, unless you know exactly the right products to use, fodds to eat and procedures to practice.

There is a real war on the poorer half of the world's population. Unfortunately, I am in the poorer half and I have been greatly abused.I just wanted to be supportive and to see your bright face. I miss you and miss our short conversations. Luckily, I am a little better and not so ill.

I also wanted you to use your room in the back of the house, which is still there for you, if you ever need it--even if just to stay over for a week-end sometime. Also, you can use the bath tub, as a change from the shower, whenever you want.Love,

Exchange of Mail

Hi Tom and Rada, we just got back from a trek through the Tiger Leaping Gorge, this is near the mountain of Shangrila, close to the Tibetan border. Tomorrow we will fly to Shanghai and move on to HongKong from there. The trek was wonderful, the mountains were the most impressive ones I've ever seen. Also we managed to avoid the massive amount of Chinese tourists traveling around in busses. Before that we were at a Panda park in Chengdu, the bears are really cute, but completely useless. They eat 20 kilograms of bamboo daily, when they're born they only way 130 grams and are the size of an apple.... (we actually got to see two newborns) so you can imagine how much they have to eat to gain their adult size after which they just lolligag around allday. It's no wonder they're nearly extinct.... The food is great, no stomach trouble yet.... weather is hot. I'm extremely tanned already.... Love Shayne 2006/8/10

I had sent:

What a delightful surprise to receive news from you. Your letter has
made my day. Was your plane trip o.k? Was it very long? (Hello,
also, to your companions. Hi! Everyone.)
There have been a number of short reports about China on TV. The
last one I saw concerned the wide popularity of the Internet in
China, although public use has been introduced warily and against a
backdrop of some censureship. Needless to say, I am glad you found a
computer.
I remember the vivid scenes of the Forbidden city in the movie, the
last Emperor by Bertolluci (sp?). I also saw the excavation Xi-An or
National Geographic. I can't wait to hear your personal description.
Do you stay in a hotel? Or are you staying with families? Are you
in a tour group? When you eat, do you choose which restaurant or are
tourists directed to specific facilities. How is the car
traffic? Have you seen the Panda's yet? Are you able to go into any
big cities? Can you easily mail letters? Do you have enough
money? Have you seen the ship yards? Does everyone speak
English? How can you receive money? Are there any Western Unions?
Do you you have the opportunity or money to buy any souvenirs, nice
clothes, little gadgets like minature cameras or computer accessories?
I was up all night completing tax forms. I had 7 sets of W-2 forms
to complete. The US tax system is undergoing transformation, but I
mailed everything today. I am also working on a low-tech, software project.
Just continue to be observant and prudent. U am relieved you are
enjoying your trip to China, so happy to receive word from you. Let
me know if you think of anything I can do for you?
So long, for now. I will write again soon.