Port St Lucie, Florida

Running late (again), for our last stop of the day (10/9/13 7pm) but I'm not stressed about it because I know the event being held at Duffy's Super Play is from 5-10pm and so it's OK if we're not exactly on time. Teresa Halliday is hosting this stop for Missing Dori Myers.

Dori's sister, Donajean was at the Lake City vigil the night before (could that really have only been yesterday?) but Dori went missing from around here. I did get to meet some of Donajean's friends who came out to support Dori for her.

Teresa did an amazing job. She got Duffy's to donate 10% of proceeds from patrons who turned in her flyer and she had her daughter's Girl Scout troop stationed at the front door making sure every and any one who entered had the flyer. They were also selling 50/50 tickets. She had a slew of missing persons posters plastered on poles and hanging by clothespins. It was disheartening to me to recognize so many of the faces of the local missing.

I met Teresa at the 2011 rally stop that she hosted in Fort Pierce (even if she doesn't remember meeting me). At that stop she had the families of  Missing Richard Borrack, Missing Dori Ann Myers, and Missing Patrick DiFrancisco, and she had read a letter from the family of Missing Emillie Hoyt. All 4 are still missing. Teresa has told me what an emotional day that was for her, but I remember her strength, resolve and determination. The way she embraced and bolstered  those families. She has only grown more so with the passing years. I've watched as she has both supported and encouraged Donajean, and I've watched her dedicate so much to CUE and all missing persons.

Teresa's husband, Nicholas Halliday Jr, went missing in 2010. He was missing for two months before his remains were found in a canal, his death the result of hypothermia. Nick was not a registered CUE case, Teresa came upon CUE afterwards. She strongly believes in media attention which is why she jumped at the chance to host us both back in 2011 and this year. Having a missing person changes you forever no matter if they have been recovered or how long they were missing.

It turned out to be a relaxing, low key evening, which I really needed. Monica had family and friends attend as did I. We got to sit and tell stories, even if Monica couldn't find anything to eat and the waiter totally forgot about Harlan's food. I didn't eat either, but it was more because Janeane and I took turns jumping up to man the CUE table, and pictures needed to be taken. I guess you can't really expect to eat during an event, at Hurricane's we wolfed down the food before the rally started. Otherwise, we usually have dinner after the 7:00 vigils.

Another reason we were relaxed was that Teresa had gotten us rooms right next door, so there was no rushing to drive late into the night and we were able to get a good nights sleep before leaving in the morning for our last Florida stop.

Elisa