Lost Child

My experience with lost children is minimal but the few times my own children were momentarily "lost" are indelibly printed on my mind. It is terrifying to the nth degree. Your mind can barely function and you are almost unable to bring your thoughts together to search. That feeling is never forgotten.

We've all watched T.V. reports where the parents of a missing child are paraded in front of the cameras desperately begging the fates to return their beloved child. It is so easy to identify with them and their terror.

Our Florida park is almost deserted now compared to how populated it was just a few weeks ago and some families have chosen this quieter time to visit relatives. Marilyn, the lady whose trailer is behind mine has daughters and grandchildren visiting her and her three year old granddaughter went missing this morning.

The first indication that something was wrong was Marilyn's frantic voice calling the child's name, and then a large group of her family racing in different directions from her trailer. In moments the word had spread that a child couldn't be found and, seconds later, the streets were full of people walking, in golf carts, and in cars streaming around the park searching.

The loudest and most frightened voice calling "Ashlyn" was her grandmother's as she raced away in the distance. Everyone was spurred on by that voice.

It seemed like ages but it probably was only minutes later when little Ashlyn was found safe and sound. Most of the searchers congregated around Marilyn, so happy that a good ending had resulted from the drama, but it will be a while yet before Marilyn calms down. Deep down fear doesn't dissipate that easily. She'll feel a stab every time she remembers the incident and thinks how easily the child could have slipped into one of the ponds in the park.

It can happen so suddenly and unexpectedly. But this time the outcome was a good one, thank heavens.