khmerican*

The event took place late September 2001 at the Maytown Rest Area, Maytown, Washington off of Interstate 5 southbound between Exit 88 and 95. The time was in the early afternoon as my parents were taking their lunch break in route home to Kelso.

While enjoying her meal, she saw a middle-aged Caucasian male (around mid-40s) step out of the long hauled semi-truck. He was carrying on the side an unidentifiable object wrapped over a shirt or jacket. My mom observed him walk over down a small hill about 50 meters away from her, just enough to realize that whatever was under the cloth had been gone. Curious as she was, she walks over to discover the object. The man was nowhere around but my mother recalls he was still parked in the rest area. It's been kept and revered at our house ever since, almost 10 years to the present.

The object appears to be a female deity of South Asian roots, perhaps even Island Southeast Asia. It's about the height of a standard ruler and at 6 to 8 inches in width. It's a heavy stone, even contemplated as gold because of its weight and copper colored coating. My father who has lifted the object a few times says its heavier than the standard 50 lbs jasmine rice bag.

My parents have treated the object in its most highest form of respect. Regularly, they put food offerings and decorate the mantle with fresh fruits and light the occasional incense. When neighbors or Khmer elders visit their home, the object becomes a point of conversation. But the conversation has never gone public until today.

And to add another layer of mystery and intrigue to the story, last night my mom had a dream. This has been first dream of its kind related to the object. In the dream, my oldest sister, Sorn, asked my mother to lift the statue. She attempts to lift but she

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was unsuccessful. Then my mother hears a female voice in the room of the house say, "You cannot lift [statue] it because there are 3 diamonds inside." My father opens the door of the bedroom, and she wakes up from her dream. It was about an hour ago that she shared me this dream.

It has taken almost 9 years on this auspicious day (wouldn't be surprise if day falls on anniversary) to go public and share this story.

My parents gave me permission to write this story and go public with only one purpose in mind - to understand the object's history and find a new rightful home. As devout Buddhist, they understand the role of religion and how sacred relics such as this deity has invaluable meaning for the culture, arts and people of its nation.

If you have any information, leads or direction about this object, please contact me at my e-mail phatryderekpan@gmail.com. Any information is greatly appreciated and will be kept confidentially.

Thanks,

Phatry
On Behalf of the Pan Family

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