Katherine Anne Perry

Wednesday, December 29, 1999

 

You won't be alone on Wednesday    From: BROWERJR1@aol.com

Mitch, I will keep this very brief as I know you have some many emails to be reading.  On Wednesday morning Judy and I are headed to El Paso, TX to watch the Ducks in the Sun Bowl.  We will be in the air somewhere over the southwest US, but will remember at 1pm Eastern to mourn the loss of your dear Katie.

 

Chat more when we return.

 

Rolland, Judy & Paris

 

re: [NewBug] A Tribute to Katie    From: tristan@gate.net

Awesome idea...will get mine up on Deelite tomorrow...a very, very, nice tribute.

 

Grace

 

> ** Original Subject: [NewBug] A Tribute to Katie

> ** Original Sender: "Steve Meister" <the.meisters@erols.com>

> ** Original Date: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 08:34:50 –0500

 

> ** Original Message follows...

 

>

> Hi folks,

>

> ElecMoHawk came up with a great idea for a tribute for Katie. Get some

> silver ribbon (the color of Katie's NB) and tie it to your NB's antenna.

> Let's also do this at R2K, for Katie.

>

> -- Steve & Christiane

> DARTH VW

 

RE: [NewBug] I lost my Angel on Christmas day    From: Kenny Millar <millark@denholm-shipman.co.uk>

Dear Mitch and Family,

 

I can't believe the news I have just read. I can only read my list at work, and so didn't hear 'till today.

 

Since I joined the list back in April I have spoken to you both on many occasions through the list. Someone recently asked why the NB list was they way it was and the answer came that we are more of a 'community' than any other list. I suddenly realized that this is true.

 

I only know Katie from the messages we have shared and the pics on your site, but I cried today.

 

My thoughts and prayers are with you, I trust that you will find strength and comfort in this difficult time.

 

God bless you all.

 

      Love,

      Kenny.

 

Much Love With you Today and Always    From: Dhxon@aol.com

Dear Family,

 

Today is very special day that Katie has brought us altogether to celebrate her life and her beauty.  We honor her and give her praise for allowing us to share our love with others as she shared her love with us.  Katie is always in hearts, in our minds and in our prayers.  She is and will always be with us.  May our prayers today help heal our souls and give new life to our relationships and love for one another.  Thank you Katie for your precious gifts.

 

We Love you!

 

Cousin @nn

 

[NewBug] Friend's response    From: "David W. Allen" <davida@airmail.net>

When Mitch, Katie and I traveled to Carlsbad Caverns / Roswell, a friend of mine named Jeff Coffey went with us - along with his two daughters Ella (8) and Morgan (10). I sent notice to Jeff about the tragedy and I'm posting his response here so that it may be included in Debbie's remembrance book.

 

***********************************************

From: Jeff Coffey <jcoffey@trwd.com>

David,

 

Thanks for the e-mail.  What a terrible, terrible tragedy.  It could not have happened to nicer people. I can't help but remember Katie as we trekked through Carlsbad Caverns, patiently submitting to Morgan and Ella's pleas for shoulder rides.  Morgan and Ella still talk of her.  During our brief interlude I observed that Katie and Mitch had a really special relationship, the type of relationship that one day I hope to have with mine. I could not imagine losing either one of them.  What a sweet girl Katie was, I feel horrible for Mitch.

 

I feel so sorry for Mitch, I cannot think of any greater loss.  I will have to search long and hard to find the right words to tell Morgan and Ella of this loss, and a response to "Why her, Daddy?"....

 

Re: [NewBug] Friend's response    From: "David W. Allen" <davida@airmail.net>

At 08:23 AM 12/29/99 -0600, you wrote:

>you can tell them that katie will always be with them too, guiding them. She loved kids dearly.

>

>Mitch

>

Thanks - I've forwarded that to Jeff at jcoffey@trwd.com.

 

Take care of yourself, and when you feel up to it, I want to talk about some things we can do at R2K for Katie.

 

See ya -

 

My deepest sympathy    From: "Michelle" <mmk2@home.com>

Perry,

 

I read your posting to the list... I sit here with tears running down my face not knowing what to write, just knowing that I need to write to you and tell you how sorry I am. Please trust that God is taking care of your little girl and that you will be with her again some day. Always believe and have faith. We are only taken from this earth when they lord wishes to have us by his side and when our job here on earth is done. I know the empty place you have in your heart. I lost a child as well in my life. This will make you stronger and give you more compassion and will help you look at life differently. I hope my words have some comfort for you. Do not be angry, it hinders healing. You are in the hearts of many now – you are not alone.

 

peace to you always,

Michelle

 

Your Christmas Angel    From: "Sander" <orland@gte.net>

Dear Mitch-

 

I am so sorry to hear about the accident on Christmas day.  I no longer subscribe to the NewBug list, so the only updates I get are from good friends.  I am glad that I got to meet you and Katie up here in Woodburn, OR over the summer, and I simply cannot express the sadness that I feel at your loss.  You need not answer my e-mail if you wish, but please know all the love and grief I feel for you and your family.

 

Sincerely,

Greg Sander

 

RE: Request for a Y2K bug    From: "Wayne Ussery" <jimellisvw@mindspring.com>

Mitch,

 

My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. I cannot fathom how hard this must be for you. Please let me know of anything I can personally do for you...

 

I will pass your request to Jay Flynn, if that is OK.

 

Deepest Regards

 

Wayne

 

My sympathies    From: Kathy Brady <bradyk@beloit.edu>

Mitch--

 

I will keep this really brief as I don't want to take up your time. I just wanted to let you know how very sorry I am. I can't imagine what you're going through....a parent's worst nightmare. Please know that we are all thinking about you and praying for you.

 

Kathy

Red 98

 

I'm so sorry....    From: "Fernandez, Theresa" <t-fernandez@ti.com>

I signed off the list the 2nd week of Dec because I was going to be out of pocket for a while.  I went to newbug.org to sign back on today ......

 

I am shocked.  I had to read the memorial three times to understand what it meant....I am so sorry Mitch. I can't believe this happened to Katie.  I called Gil in tears to tell him and he couldn't believe it either.

 

He enjoyed Katie's company when we all gathered for dinner in Dallas last May.  She was his co-hort in the parking attendant controversy :-).  We both admired her energy and spunk and her self-assuredness.  I just don't know what to say.

 

Mitch, our prayers are with you and your family.  I'm so glad that you had the opportunity to spend a wonderful summer with Katie, traveling around the country.  You will always have those wonderful memories of getting to know each other again.

 

Theresa

 

[NewBug] Remembering Katie    From: "l.g.Peterson" <impalass@gallatinriver.net>

I never knew her, I only knew of her.  I read posts and saw pics on the homepages. Such a sad sad thing. Then today as Oskar my trusty Chow dog and I were hitting the onramp (I74) Moline, IL we happened upon another NB with a young girl at the wheel waving and smiling.

 

We traveled together for about 50 miles when I peeled off at Galesburg,  I flashed her the peace sign and she smiled again and waved.  I finally got a good look and noticed the Georgia plates, whew.  Her memory lives on.

 

Take care mitch, we are all with you.

Loren, Cheryl + Tweety

 

[NewBug] I am so so so sorry    From: VWBEATLELUVER@aol.com

Mitch,

 

I am very very sorry to hear about your child, Please take good care of yourself, Zach

 

LOSS OF AN ANGEL: KATHERINE    From: ThesignStudio <thesign@onda.com.br>

NB List Fellow, MITCH PERRY, wrote:

 

>>Katie please save me a place with you, I hope to see you in the future someday again. I hope those wings fit ok.

 

Ola, Mitch!

 

Perdoe-me antecipadamente por escrever-lhe em minha propria lingua, mas o que podemos fazer num momento desses? E de dificil traducao!

 

Estranho como somos mais ou menos preparados para perder nossos pais, mas absolutamente despreparados para a perda de un 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 tenho me percebido pensando em voce, mesmo tendo a estranha certeza que jamais o conhecerei pessoalmente, ou a qualquer um de voces, adoraveis "NB Fellows", os "Amigos do Fusca"....

 

(Homepages ajudam, mas pessoalmente e insusbstituivel. )

 

Estou profundamente triste por causa de sua carta. E lhe agradeco profundamente por ter causado isto em mim, nesses dias conhecidos como "felizes".

 

Gracas a sua carta, pude reorientar meus sentimentos em relacao as pessoas que merecem meu amor, a vida e tão absolutamente curta!

 

Voce fez com que me lembrasse dos verdadeiros "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

thesign@onda.com.br

_________________________________________________________

 

Hi, Mitch!

 

Anticipated sorry to write to you in my own language, but what we can do in these moments? It is hard to translate!

 

I feel strange thinkings in how we are, well, "prepared" to confront a loss of our parents, but not prepared from loss one of our descendents.

 

Much strange I feel myself, coming to tears, when I had the opportunity to read your letter sent to us, this hard happens to me. This is very rare!

 

I am not religious, but I had some perceptions these days, I got myself thinking about you, even getting the weirdest sensation that I NEVER will meet you in personal, even all of you, friendly NB Fellows.

 

(Homepages helps, but in person it is irreplaceable.)

 

I am DEEPLY sad, thanks to your letter. I thank you deeply to cause this in me, in these days known as "happy".

 

Thanks to your letter, I redefine all 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 to 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

thesign@onda.com.br

 

[NewBug] Katie's Legacy    From: fkern@us.ibm.com

I realized last night that Katie's memorial service will coincide, almost to the hour, with the 30th anniversary of the day we picked up our first Beetle.  I was the 17 year-old at the time and dad taught me to drive a standard on it.  He's gone, but if Katie meets him "up there" she'll have a good teacher.

 

It is truly a shame that someone reading about a 17 year-old being killed in an auto accident will likely jump to conclusions of alcohol or speed being involved -- not that we lost her from being too tired from sharing her favorite activities with her father.

 

We should all learn one thing from Katie's tragic accident.  We have debated the safety features of the New Beetle here at length, but Katie proves that they are not sufficient to protect everyone all the time.  The trip to Roswell will involve a lot of long distance travel with the anticipation of a good time and making new friends.  Honor Katie's memory by taking calling it a day when you start to get tired.  We can best remember Katie by making sure no one else disappears from his family.

 

Fred Kern

 

Re: [NewBug] I lost my Angel on Christmas day    From: PMR1028@aol.com

I am so so sorry Mitch.  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your Family at this time.

 

Patty and Little Critter

 

[NewBug] A possible Tribute Sticker... From: "Gary M" <miyakawa@mindspring.com>

Hi Folks,

 

I've been quiet here about Mitch's loss.  It's been hard for me to put into words my feelings.  I don't know how he is doing but I wish him and the rest of his family all the best.  Though I had only met Katie a couple of times, there was a little different connection for me.  My daughter also went to Cottage school here in Roswell.  It's a good school and I will be Contributing in Katie's honor.  I've been sitting here thinking about Stickers and what might be appropriate..  I've worked on 2 based on what Everyone here has mentioned.  I don't want this to be something that will cause pain to anyone.  I've email a few of you to see these and your input has been very helpful.   By no means are these my ideas.... I've just built on all of your great suggestions...  I just had the time to try and put it to image..  If you have the chance, please take a look at the images at http://miyakawa.home.mindspring.com/TDILOGO.htm There are two images there.  Please let me know IF you think either one is appropriate...   If I just need to forget about it, that's ok too.....   I'll just delete them. These are here for anyone out there to use if they would like...  With all the great printers out there, you can create what you would like or talk with David about making his "Angel" sticker...  I will say, I don't need the Silver Ribbon to remind me, but it's nice all the same...

 

Gary M