Life before 2008 29 Nov 2006 06:50 pm
Yeah….life is never boring around here….
“We’re going for a walk Mom!” That is what they said. It was an unseasonably warm day today, the sun was shining, they had on bright clothes (for hunters) and this new trail they’d found the other day, not far from the house.
“We want to show Wheaton the trail.”
Three hours later they weren’t home. It was an hour before dark and the sky was clouding for a storm.
I walked up the way they said they were doing, which conveniently provided a pretty clear view over about a half mile of the tracks, several fields and yards, and barren trees. I yelled and I whistled. No sound, no sign, no bike tracks.
When I got home it had been three and half hours. I knew they were far enough way to not hear me and it was a half hour before dark. I called David, who pretty much dropped everything and ran.
A neighbor who was walking called the Sheriff’s Office for us. And then it was amazing. Really, truly, amazing. People out here have their own police scanners and when a call comes out they flock to the scene. We had guys on four wheelers, police, and neighbors.
They found the kids on the way home, oblivious to the upheaval on their behalf. They’d found a rail tunnel, some water (they were all drenched and Celia had a towel wrapped around where her pants had once been) and several rocky trails to follow. One backpack missing, with one pair of jeans inside (the fact that they packed extra clothing, a towel, and apples of snacks lends itself to understanding they most certainly were NOT simply planning a little walk), is all that’s in the woods on this dark night.
They were kept safe from snakes, panthers, and coyotes. Injury. Who knows what kind of human threat could have been out there. The officers said, “we’ll uh…let you take care of these here children now…”. It was sort of an unsaid thing among every adult present that some discipline was about to be doled out.
Daddy marched them up to their rooms. He lectured and yelled and made them apologize. And then….
well I was lost in a swamp when I was probably just a bit younger than Wheaton. And David got lost in the woods at 11 and had the whole town looking for him. Somewhere in the midst of all that lecturing he remembered what it felt like to be walking along, curious and feeling free until one moment you don’t know where you are, and it’s scary, and then you’re found and a bunch of people went out of their way to find you.
We just hugged them and fed them hot bowls of pea soup and biscuits. I need to post that recipe soon too because it’s the quintessential southern biscuit, flaky and layered and light. Drizzled with local honey over a schmear of yellow butter it pretty much can’t be beat.
I’m curling up with some chocolate if I can dredge some up, and some leftover Thanksgiving wine, and I’m going to rest knowing my chickens are all in the nest. Tomorrow’s grocery day so I won’t pretend it’s going to be quiet. Just gotta go with the flow….
on 29 Nov 2006 at 9:15 pm 1.Dr. Hibiscus said …
phew. glad to hear they all made it home safe and sound. and it’s great that you both took a step back from yourselves as PARENTS and remembered what it was like… what is it they say in basketball? “no harm, no foul” it’s so cool that you live in that small town and half of the town shows up to help you look for your kids when they’re “misplaced”
on 29 Nov 2006 at 10:42 pm 2.Cathy said …
I was never lost either. However, my parents managed to misplace themselves at times…
on 30 Nov 2006 at 12:11 am 3.Queen of the Hill said …
Oh my. I’m stressed just thinking about it. My kids disappeared for an hour or so last year and I was ready to call in the troops. (MY daddy.) I had already sent THEIR daddy looking for them. I cried when they came home. I don’t think they will ever do it again after watching me blubber like that!
on 30 Nov 2006 at 9:40 am 4.Andy N said …
… and I remember a time when my younger brother and I, we were then about 5 and 4, “went for a walk” when my mom was quite pregnant with my sister. I knew exactly where we were: playing in the little creek a quarater mile up the road, and which way to go to get home - it’s just that it’s a lot of fun playing in running water, and time slips by easily, and someone ‘finds’ us and hauls us home to a crying mom that isn’t sure whether to hug us or whoop us. I suspect Dad supplied the discipline, and Mom the hugs, though I’ve forgotten that part. Oddly enough, I do remember playing in the creek.
My middle daughter. at age 14, went for a ride with some friends of a friend and ended up at a “party” three towns away (with older teens and booze) - and it was a few hours later when she got home, completely safe, knowing she’d fouled up, bigtime. I about died of worry, but she learned far more than I could have ‘taught’ her, because of not only the “what do parents know?” thing most teens have, but she saw it first hand, by some miracle, had enough sense to not drink, and she didn’t get hurt. I now have an 800# (which forwards to the cell phone) that they can call from virtually anywhere, so the “it was a long distance call, and what if you weren’t home to accept a collect call?” excuse doesn’t fly. *crosses arms*
I suppose it’s a wonder that any of us live to reach adulthood, and it’s part of the miracle of Life and His Providence that God indeed is watching, and blessing, so many, so often.
Now, will you be having them take you out on this trail so you know where, what and how it is? To make it clear that “adventures” of this kind are not altogether forbidden, but DO need the presence of a responsible adult? What a valuable “teachiing moment” for preparedness and safety and being responsible enough to at least let you know their full itinerary, because if it’s even slightly questionable that Mom or Dad would approve, then it’s certain they shouldn’t be going without Mom or Dad. God and His Angels may be watching, but God also provided you as their parents / teachers / guardians / role models for a reason. From what I read here, I’m sure they are blessed way beyond their knowing, and know they will likely realize most of ‘just how much’ eventually, and give thanks accordingly, hopefully before they become parents themselves.
I’m thankful they got home, safe and sound. May it always be so.
on 30 Nov 2006 at 9:42 am 5.gina said …
Wow, good thing they aren’t my kids- like running out in the street- this one would warrant a spanking/grounding to really get the point across the seriousness of 1. not telling the truth 2.scaring your parents to death and 3. for getting the authorities involved. Course I’m sure in the moment of finding them, you were overjoyed. This is why kids give us gray hair!