LIFE STORIES

BY DAN MILLER
June 26, 2006

Each of us has a "life story", filled with characters and situations that make up the texture and plot of our lives.

Some of the characters may be "bit players", making only a brief appearance, but still having a significant impact on certain chapters, or even our whole story.

What got me thinking about this today was the news over the weekend that Patsy Ramsey had died.

Back in 1999, I was unexpectedly granted an interview with Patsy and John Ramsey, the elusive parents of JonBenet Ramsey.
They had not spoken with the news media for two years.
That interview led to appearances for me on NBC Nightly News.... CNN's Larry King Live.... Dateline.... Geraldo.... and several interviews on MSNBC.

You can read my thoughts about the Ramsey case, and about my conversation with them, by going to the essay, DO I KNOW WHO KILLED JONBENET RAMSEY?

During all that national TV exposure, I was spotted by several old friends, and it led to one particular, wonderful re-connection.
I wrote about in AN UNEXPECTED FRIENDSHIP.
Read it, and you'll see what I mean.

So the death of Patsy Ramsey touched me.
Our acquaintance lasted for only the 30 minutes it took to do that interview....
I never spoke to her again....
And I may never know whether she had any connection to the death of her daughter.... though I cannot imagine she could have, or would have, done such a thing.

I do know -- because of those 30 brief minutes with Patsy Ramsey -- she will always represent a notable chapter in my own life story.

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