Dear Friends and Family,

Folks, just a quick note to check in. Sorry it has been so long. I will send a real letter in a couple weeks. But since a number of you have been wondering what has become of me... I thought I would send a quick note. At the moment, I am on deadline to finish my comprehensive exams for anthropology. That means I have a 30 page theoretical paper in answer to a complex question that must be to my Committee by Oct. 30. I am working hard but as usual, it is a difficult process. (Anyone who thinks writing is easy has never been a writer.) So if you would like to light a candle or say a prayer, or send energy my way, please do so. I'll need it.

In other areas, we haven't been allowed to see Rowan at all. The depth of our sadness and fear is hard to articulate. Lon has been granted a short phone call twice and Troy once. I am not allowed to talk with him at all. Tina is being extremely vindictive -- even if it hurts Rowan too. Oh, some of you have posted/published info on our legal battle. Thanks, it means a lot to us. We would caution you though not to use Tina or Rowan's names. Also, to check your facts carefully. Some of the information that we have seen have been wrong. For example, one report we saw claimed that we added another man to our family since she left. Wrong. We had the delightful company of Chad as our housemate when we still lived in Iowa City, but our relationship is still Lon, Troy and myself. No changes legally. I will explain more in the next letter.

Meanwhile, we are settling well into our new house/neighborhood. We are broke but love the place and each other. It is a beautiful, crazy house just North of Berkeley. We can see the sunset behind the Golden Gate Bridge in the evening.

Well, I had better get back to work.

Love,
Dawn