James' Apology

[Nancy Hastings-Trew]

I was pen pals with Rita Dawn Carlson(sen) in the late 60's/70's when I was a young teenager and a big Dark Shadows fan. She was into witchcraft and claimed her boyfriend was a real vampire. I was pretty young and impressionable and she scared me a little, but I realized she was probably just having some fun with me. For the most part she was a pretty interesting correspondent. She actually got me and my friends to set up a seance where she would send her image to me via "astral projection". I'm not sure how successful it was, but it was fun and spooky when you are 13 years old.

I always wondered what happened to her, so is this Rita D. Miller the same person? And if she is actually on this forum, does she remember me and could she say hello?

[a***@comcast.net]

Dear Ms. Hastings-Trew:

It's been some months since your post but if you're still seeking a reply (and for the edification of any other veteran posters who recall Rita Dawn Miller), my research indicates that the only Rita Dawn Miller from California listed in the SSDI, died in 2008 aged 57 (and since extracted on Sysoon.com and similar sites.) This is in line with information she and/or other posters shared back in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Since I haven't been able to find any internet postings bearing her name (or one of her many aliases) later than circa 2005, and she was known to have complained of chronic ailments as far back as the early 2000s, it appears likely.

It's certainly possible another woman bearing the same name and of similar age died at that time, and since going through the California local newspaper archives for a real obituary was not possible for me (it may not even have been printed-- print obits were expensive by then and I tried Legacy.com-- nada) we'll have to take it for what it's worth.

I was on the NG back then, and sparred with her like many others. It was often annoying and even infuriating, but there was never a dull moment for sure.

[a***@comcast.net]

Post by Nancy Hastings-Trew
I was pen pals with Rita Dawn Carlson(sen) in the late 60's/70's when I was a young teenager and a big Dark Shadows fan. She was into witchcraft and claimed her boyfriend was a real vampire. I was pretty young and impressionable and she scared me a little, but I realized she was probably just having some fun with me. For the most part she was a pretty interesting correspondent. She actually got me and my friends to set up a seance where she would send her image to me via "astral projection". I'm not sure how successful it was, but it was fun and spooky when you are 13 years old.
I always wondered what happened to her, so is this Rita D. Miller the same person? And if she is actually on this forum, does she remember me and could she say hello?

Dear Ms. Trew-Hastings:

It has been some months, but if you are still reading (and for the information of any other veteran posters who remember Ms. Miller) my internet research has indicated that the only Rita Dawn Miller from California listed on SSDI (and since extracted by Sysoon.com and similar sites) died in 2008, aged 57.

The age is in line with information posted back in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Since I haven't found an internet posting by RDM (or one of her many aliases) since circa 2005, and she was known to complain of chronic ailments, unless evidence to the contrary surfaces, one can take this for what it's worth.

I used to spar with her on this newsgroup back then, and while it was often annoying and sometimes infuriating, there was never a dull moment to be sure.