Rose's Cantina

Courtesy of Fred Bowering It's hard to believe a year has gone by since Ashley Simpson disappeared without a trace from her home in Salmon Arm, British Columbia. What a world we live in. In honor of our Ashley, I am posting some thoughts from her family. Please add your thoughts and prayers. If you have a little extra in the bank, perhaps you would consider contributing at Go Fund Me to help her father, John, who will soon be on the road back to Salmon Arm to look for her. God Bless. John Remembers: Well, Ash, my girl. It's been a long, very long year with so much confusion, heartache, pain and sorrow. One would think we would break, end all the drama that has been made since your disappearance. We walk the talk and breathe you every moment of our lives. Your sisters are all in a very bad spot with you gone and no answers as we all hope every day is that we will wake from this nightmare. Amanda Langlois Remembers: I can't believe it...

Dearest Ashley: I've never met you, but I've gotten to know you. Through your wonderful parents, John and Cindy. Through your incredible and messy gaggle of sisters, and your friends. What a wonderful girl you were, what an amazing woman you became. Thank you for letting me in. You taught me much over this year. Maybe taught is not the right word. Maybe you reminded me. Reminded me of what's important. Family. Loyalty. Sincerity. Love. Understanding. Community. Giving back. Giving of ourselves. Through encounters with death, loss and illness, we are reminded about the importance of living the hell out of our lives, because we never now where the road ends. We never know when it's time to attend our last bonfire. You have reminded me of that, every month, every minute, every second that we have spent together. In this space. . I've never met you, but I see you. You know that. In my mind's eye. You are in a pool of light, in a mead...

Embed from Getty Images While the first anniversary of the disappearance of Ashley Simpson weighs heavily on the hearts and minds of her friends and family, the community of Salmon Arm, British Columbia remains on edge. There have been reports of other strange doings in the place where she was last seen. In recent days, two women have told their friends that they were nearly killed by a black pickup truck. One incident happened this week, the other happened last fall. "I've been hearing some odd stories in the community lately," said one of my sources. "Two nights ago (April 12), there was an incident where a woman driving alone was run off the road on Yankee Flats Road by a black pickup truck. Police were involved." Both Ashley and her neighbor, Deanne Wertz , lived on Yankee Flats. Both women disappeared without a trace within weeks of each other last spring. Neither have been found, though the RCMP say the cases are unrelated. My sour...

Embed from Getty Images I got an email from Ashley Simpson's dad yesterday who is lining up the ducks, getting ready for his quest to find his daughter who disappeared a year ago from her home in Salmon Arm. John Simpson was originally going to drive across the country but now he's decided it would be cheaper and faster to fly out and rent a car. He's got about a month before he has to return to Huntsville to take up his summer duties as the cook at the Longhouse. He says he's hoping it won't take that long but he's prepared to keep looking as long as he can. John wants, no needs, some sort of resolution. He's hoping for the best, and expecting the worst. That's what happens when your daughter disappears without a trace. The cops have no leads they are willing to share with the family. The answer is always the same: they're looking at the evidence. This will be a lonely quest for this kind and loving man who has spent the winte...

Embed from Getty Images A year ago, Ashley Simpson was looking forward to returning to her home in Niagara to attend her sister's baby shower. She'd been facing some challenges; she'd left her job in Northern, B.C. and moved to Salmon Arm, the hometown of her boyfriend Derek who wanted to be close to his kids. She was waiting for Derek to give her some scratch, enough to get home where her big and loving family were missing her. Her parents, John and Cindy, were concerned about her, so she made sure she sent them posts and photos. John joked that the girl with the gypsy tattoo was "the selfie queen". She was always posting and talking to her parents, her sisters, and her close friends. John is a working stiff, a guy who cooks for the ships and boats that travel along the Welland Canal. Last spring, he was looking forward to his summer job at the Longhouse in Huntsville where he could relax a bit, and fish the lake for dinner. Ashley always came ...

Embed from Getty Images Last week, Whitney Dumas joined an exclusive club that no one ever wants to join. It's been said that there is nothing worse than a parent outliving a child. There is one thing worse. Little Nathan, who was about to celebrate his eighth birthday, lost his life at the hands of his stepfather, the guy who took him to Disney, who bought him food, who took him to school. His future was ended by a person he trusted to protect him. And now Whitney must raise her other two small children without their brother, and without their father. What an ungodly mess. Today, Whitney and her family said goodbye to Nathan. Look at this face. Who could hurt this little boy? Most of us cannot know what this feels like, to lose a child, especially in this manner. Over the past week, people across Canada have been touched by this story. Grant LaFleche, who works at the  St. Catharines Standard , told me today that his story ra...

As winter turns to spring, and the frozen ground begins to thaw, all thoughts turn to you, Ashley. It's been nearly a year now since you disappeared. You seemed so happy on that day. Margaret Falls holds many secrets. She has begun to whisper your name.