Lost Friends and Helen Brach

All of this paranormal talk and ghost hunter visitation made me curious. We have been told versions of the previous owner’s demise; we do not, however, know what is true and what is truth embellished. The description of one version tickled my brain so as a result I thought I would do a little investigation. We were told of a Helen Brach like story with a male companion; Helen’s was a butler or houseman, who plied her with drugs and alcohol until that fatal day. We were told there were copious amounts of blood at the scene therefore I surmised there must be a police report. I also surmised that an ambulance was surely called and if the policy was in place in 2006 as it is now, Public Safety would also be involved. Where there is Public Safety there are reports, which are public records, so that is where my digging started and ended. No report, no mention of her on that fatal day; a dead end so-to-speak. Where to next? Archives of the Star would be the logical place for an obituary however I figured since no police report was filed there would be no attached story. Curiouser and couriouser. I have tracked the male companion; I know where he is. Too bad he could not come back for the stash of goodies he hid on the grounds. Too bad I can not speak with him but then would he tell me the truth. Helen Brach’s butler never did and she was never found. Even though suspicions grew that “the butler did it” because he purchased a small meat grinder the weekend she disappeared, that was debunked by the scientist as the grinder was too small to grind a body; seems the motor would have burned out before the job was completed. That left Richard Bailie, the con artist, the horseman who sold ringers to older rich women. Our only suspect is the companion but since no investigation took place I suppose we will never know.
Nothing makes one face his or her own mortality like having a life-long friend of the same age die. Nothing makes one want to go out and really live when one loses someone like this to a disease that makes no sense. My friend never took a drink a day in her life yet she died of non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. She had recently been placed on the transplant list but her body just gave out. She and I shared many a memorable moment from three years old until now. She and I got into our share of trouble growing up but the thing I will remember the most is how we used to giggle until we cried every single time we got together.
The children’s author from Texas will be back this week and I am looking forward to hearing more stories from “The Crawford Texas Ranch”, its guardians the Secret Service and most especially about Mandy the Manatee in the Savannah River. I will pass these stories on of course because last time they were so amusing.
The last event took place at Lookaway July 5th. 200 guests, Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts, and mother nature all came together to create a rocking and fitting farewell to that magnificent home. July 4th evening was spent on the walk out roof watching the fireworks on the Savannah; the final time for this also. We had planned on Popeye’s chicken but for some unknown reason they ran out of chicken or did not want to bother to cook it because they wanted to get out early. This is the store on Walton Way and 25 and believe me when I tell you the young woman at the window was insolent, rude and with any luck, after my scathing email to the home office, will be looking for a job this next week.