Hey everyone,

Almost a decade ago, I was forced to disconnect from my mother due to her deeply abusive, manipulative, and controlling behavior. It was a difficult decision, especially as she had control over all my worldly possessions that I'd spent the first twenty-some odd years of my collecting.

The full story of this battle over my possessions is long and drawn out, but basically can be reduced to one, overarching pattern: I offer to take care of them in a way that doesn’t necessitate a face to face situation, she refuses to let anyone who isn’t me onto the property (even if they are someone I bring to help me). The last message I got from her in 2018/2019 was that she intended to burn all my belongings, and my response was to shut down and begin mourning them.

Fast forward to a month or two ago, when she sent me an e-mail titled: Last chance to get your belongings, in which she lets me know she’s selling her house and that I’ll have until the end of March to get them.

This timeframe has now escalated to January 15th. [UPDATE: I got her to extend to the 23rd, but she made it clear it's my last chance]. This is partially my fault: I've been unemployed for the past year and applying to jobs like crazy. I thought I had finally found one, but the training would occur during the majority of the timeframe, so I reached out and tried to explain the situation to her. I told her I was still waiting to find out more and would update her as soon as I knew.

Instead of waiting, she e-mailed me this morning to let me know all my belongings are on her carport (in boxes), and would be there until the 15th of January. If I haven't picked them up by then, she will call charities to cart them off and I will never see them again.

I've been unemployed since February of last year, with no income what to speak of. I'm swimming in debt, on the verge of bankruptcy, and can't afford to fly to Florida (I’m in Arizona) and rent a truck to bring my belongings back.

Which is why I'm here, asking for your help - begging for it, really. This is the last chance I have to reconnect with the tangible proof of my past. To see faces I haven't seen in decades. To touch items that I collected from all the places I lived. To reclaim art and keepsakes that I spent my formative years collecting. To read my old journals and writings and see how far I've progressed. To share with my community my story, now complete with tangible items and things I've missed more than words can express.

The funding for this will pay for a flight out there, a moving truck, help loading it into the truck quickly, and for gas and hotel expenses driving back.

Please. I hate even having to ask. Like many children of abusive parents, I've prided myself on being independent and being self-sufficient, but that's not the reality I live in right now, despite my best efforts. Anything you can give will help.

Thank you for your time and for reading my story.

Sincerely,

Kitty