Kimberly Klein - Hummingbirds Dont Fly In The Rain: A Mothers Extraordinary Search for her Daughter in this Life- and the Next

A riveting story of unimaginable heartbreak and courage. It leaves you in awe of this mothers vast ability to love and to heal. It cannot help but change your view of what is possible.

E LLEN S IMON , SCREENWRITER , O NE F INE D AY AND M OONLIGHT AND V ALENTINO

The story is compelling, fascinating and rivetingI couldnt put it down! The chapter on Raising Talia is one of the most intriguing accounts of parenting Ive ever read.

J ENNIFER R EAD H AWTHORNE , #1N EW Y ORK T IMES BESTSELLING CO-AUTHOR OF C HICKEN S OUP FOR THE W OMANS S OUL AND C HICKEN S OUP FOR THE M OTHERS S OUL

This spellbinding, true story shows how the human spirit can triumph in the face of adversity with some inspiring help from beyond the veil.

R ANDY P EYSER , AUTHOR OF T HE P OWER OF M IRACLE T HINKING

For Talia
My sweet sugarplum; you will always be my greatest love, joy and inspiration.

Portrait of Talia in oil by Fred Kepler

Copyrighted Material Hummingbirds Dont Fly in the Rain

Copyright 2011 by Kimberly Klein

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwisewithout prior written permission, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

For information about this title or to order other books and/or electronic media, contact the publisher:

Pretty Much Amazing Press, a division of PMA Content Group Pahrump, Nevada

www.prettymuchamazingpress.com

1-800-650-6422

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011912907

ISBN (paperback): 978-0-9837750-0-3

ISBN (hardcover): 978-0-9837750-1-0

Printed in the United States of America

Cover and Interior design by: 1106 Design

Author Photo: Peter Palladino Make up: Marie Augustine

D ISCLAIMER

This book is based on my life with my daughter, her father, and our families. Everything in this book is true as to how I lived it, perceived it, and experienced it.

C ONTENTS

I t was about 3:30 in the afternoon of December 23, 2007 when the phone rang. I had just finished watching Black Beauty and was thinking what a cute movie it was, and how I could hardly wait for Talia to be home the next night so we could start our holiday break. I picked up the phone; it was Bob Klein, my ex-husband Michaels father.

Kim, something terrible has happened. The plane with Michael and Frankie

My mouth went dry. What about Talia? Wheres Talia? I pleaded, not understanding why he hadnt mentioned my daughterhis granddaughteronly her friend, Francesca Lewis.

Talia was with Michael and Frankie, but their plane never landed in Volcan. Its missing.

My heart stopped. My brain stopped. I stared into space with the phone at my ear, unable to speak. Like a robot I moved from the den to my office and sat down at the computer.

What should I do? I have to go to Panama!

Bob said, Yes, you probably should go.

Whats going on in Panama now? Whos looking for the plane?

He said Michaels brother-in-law, Jim, was organizing a search.

My mind felt empty, as if someone had unplugged it. Mechanically, I asked him what airlines went to Panama, even though I already knew the answer. He told me Copa and Continental flew direct from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Panama City, then asked if I would call the Lewises. I could hardly figure out how to turn my computer on, much less dial the Lewises number. He said hed do it, and we hung up.

I was so frightened for Talia that I didnt even know what to pack. I grabbed my passport and stuck it in my backpack, then threw in some underwear and two shirts. I forgot my toothbrush, pajamas, any pants besides the jeans I had on, and my cell phone charger. That would end up being a big deal.

It would be a two-hour drive to LAX from Santa Barbara. I decided Id start making calls, including to the airlines, once I was on the freewayI had to get going. But first, I needed to make sure Frankies parents knew. Bob had not reached them yet, so I tried their houseno answer. Then I called Frankies mother on her cell phone. No answer. I left a message. Valerie, this is Kim. Give me a call as soon as you can. Thanks. That was it. I could not leave the information on her voicemail.

I ran out of the house. Just then, Valerie called me back. I had no idea what to say or how to say it, but I had to tell her. Valerie, I dont know how to say this except to be straight. The plane the kids were on from the islands to Volcan is missing. It didnt land when it was supposed to. Im heading to Panama right now. Do you want to come with me?

Valerie was in shock, as I expected she would be. Unsure what to do, she said she had to call Kirk, her husband. Im going to Panama tonight, I said. Im trying to get reservations, and I need to know whos going so I can get reservations for you too. I told her to keep me posted.

Once in the car, I called Linda, Michaels sister, who had first called Bob about the missing plane. She and her husband, Jim lived in the city of David on the Pacific side of Panama, where Michael owned a string of islands called Islas Secas. He had taken Talia and Frankie to his eco-resort there.

I wanted to find out from Linda exactly what had happened. When had she found out the plane was missing, who had told her, what was being done right now to look for the planewhether there was any news at all.

Linda had no information for me. All she knew was that Michael had been flying to his friend Calle Jansens coffee plantation that day. Calle had left a message on her answering machine that the plane had not shown up at the landing strip. Linda hadnt gotten home until 5:30 p.m., so she had no idea what time Calle had left the message. She didnt know whether he had called the authorities or started a search, but she was thinking Michael had pulled a Michael and decided to change his plans without letting anyone know. She figured eventually he would call from somewhere else and say he had decided to do this or that.

I knew this was not the case. First, Talia would have called to tell me about the changeshe always calls me, always. Second, Talia and Michael had definite plans, and their date of return, December 24, was set in stone. Michael would not alter that.

I asked Linda how I should to get to David once I landed in Panama City. She said her dad was flying in, and they had arranged for a driver to meet him at the international airport. They werent sure whether he would then go to the regional airport and take a commuter flight to David or travel by car.

I had no idea Bob was going to Panama! He had never mentioned it in our conversationsnot when I had told him I had to get there or when I had asked about the different airlines. Not even when I had called him for Lindas phone number. I was flabbergasted that Bob hadnt offered to make reservations for me on his flight. If the tables had been turned, theres no question I would have made reservations for him.