Natalee Holloway Echos Advice From My Parents

"You are going to a foreign country, the laws and rules are all different"

"By going to a foreign country, you could be suffer the consequences of not only your actions but those you are around"

"Be careful, PLEASE -- NEVER go off on your own AND stay with the friends that you are down there with -- the locals know the laws and what they can get away with better then you know".

As soon as I heard about Natalee Holloway disappearance the above comments floated in and out of my head w/ the distinct concern of my parents years ago

I grew up in Arizona, where the popular destination for Spring Break was Rocky Point, Mexico. The first year that I went was either 16 or 17 (for those of you counting -- the late 80's) and continued until a couple years into college. Prior to that had been to border towns shopping w/ parents, but the first time I went by myself deep into a foreign country -- all I can say is "culture shock". The reason why this was so popular was resort town, lower drinking age (and no enforcement of the law which makes it possible anyone w/ cash to drink), ocean, a weekend long party. This was not just on Spring Break but pretty much any trip that I have taken to a popular destination like this -- guarantee to let loose and party it up!!!

By the way they were not supportive of my traveling - for my safety - and even offered to pay for me to go anywhere in the U.S instead -- DIDN'T EVEN ENTERTAIN THE THOUGHT -- for the reasons listed above! I even knew many kids that went down with no money, no place to stay (many just camped out on the beach), and left without their parents permission and with the attitude that they would deal w/ the parents when they got home!

I would like to say that I followed the advice that my parents drilled into my head -- the reason that I survived was because I was responsible and choose situations that would not put me in danger -- that my friends never did anything that could have been disastrous for any of us -- pretty much we just sat in our hotel room and played scrabble.... BUT THEN I WOULD BE FULL OF SHIT.

I survived because I was damn lucky! Period.

My mothers birthday is today -- and I will be sure to tell both her and my father "thank you", did I follow the advice -- no -- but I was more aware of it while I was down there, still today I repeat the same caution to anyone I know going anywhere foreign (especially if it is there first time), and dread the day that my girls tell me that they are going to Rocky Point for spring break.

I truly feel for the fate of which Natalee Holloway may have had to endure, the guilt of the friends that where down there with her, the heartache and sadness that her poor parents are experiencing (and frustration w/ the political/law aspects they are dealing with) . Face it -- it is hard enough to find justice in the country that we live in -- let alone if you throw in corruptness, different cultures, laws, rights -- etc...... and doing it for one of your babies.

Hopefully, we stress the advice and lessons learned from this case to our children, who are going to be teenagers and young adults so that they will hopefully get the point -- and not just be lucky!