Raleigh NC Elisa

And so it begins.

Getting up early, our adrenaline is flowing and our expectations are high. We left Wilmington and arrived in Raleigh 30 minutes ahead of schedule only to spend 40 minutes riding in circles unable to find the location. On our second go round, though, we did find Harlan in a car behind us. Or should I say he found us. At least the crew was now complete. Janeane  spent some time in a legislative building that we thought was the correct place attempting to get a parking permit for the van. Wrong place, number one, and we definitely weren't special enough for the permit, number two. Finally we made a phone call, but still being confused were told to stay where we were. Our host, Nona Best, came walking down the street asking if the searchers were lost and in need of help. With heads hung low we all got back in the van with Nona and she directed us around the block.

The first stop was held in honor of Leah Roberts. A fitting way to begin our tour since she is the reason behind us going out every year. Leah went missing in 2000 while on a cross country journey. Because she left NC on her own and only her vehicle was found in Washington state 9 days later it was a difficult case to navigated. Which police department should have jurisdiction? Which media outlets can be enticed by her story? So, in 2004 CUE decided to duplicate her trip. They stopped in all the places she stopped, and they contacted media all along the route. They succeeded that year in bringing needed attention to Leah and The Road To Remember Tour was born.

Now, we are 10 minutes late and Monica grabs press packets and is off. Harlen grabs the banner, David the table, and Janeane our set up box and off they go. Gathering up other items we needed I didn't arrive until the press conference was under way and I could see Leah's sister, Kara speaking. All of a sudden the solemness of what we will be doing for the next 8 days hits me. I've always enjoyed listening to Kara speak about her sister. I feel she speaks slowly, pensively, and I know how difficult these moments can be. I take a moment to look around, it's a beautiful day, and there are people all around us. People who have no idea why we are here, or what we are doing, people who are just going about their normal Friday, their lives untouched by the horror of having a loved one missing. Then I focus again on Kara, on Monica, on the press and those of us involved in the world of the missing. While it's not a world I would have chosen I am glad I am here.

As we are packing up to leave some of Leah's friends arrive. Maybe we weren't the only lost ones. Luckily there is some time to catch up before we go off to lunch with Kara and Holly. We end up at a nearby burger joint (that was awesome), and have time to sit and talk awhile. We are savoring  this time knowing it's not going to happen often on this years tour. Monica gets a call and someone else who missed the rally comes to the restaurant. He's in a CUE shirt and sits on the other side of the table. I think he's a volunteer and continue talking with Kara and Holly. The stories and laughter flow as we relax from the somber morning. I glance over at Janeane and can see the other end of the table is having a far more serious discussion. I learn he's not a volunteer but the father of a missing girl.
Jennifer Patterson was 7 years old when she disappeared in 1991. Doing the math, she's about a month younger than my 30 year old daughter. My married daughter with a daughter of her own. As we are leaving for our next stop we are telling him some of the other stops he is close enough to come to, stops on our way back. As we are saying our goodbyes I tell him that I'm sorry we didn't have time to talk. And I truly am, I feel he needs to talk about his daughter and that I would really like to listen, to learn about Jennifer. I hope he does come to another rally and that I get the chance.

Elisa Stirling