by R.J. Shie

Created on: October 30, 2008

Losing Nick

My son Nick has a reputation for being easily lost, which he earned through diligence. On more than one occasion, I've found myself searching in fear for my wandering progeny. One such event took place when he was about three. I thought that it would be nice to walk down to the corner to get a paper. I put my then one year old daughter in her stroller. Nick, who was three at the time, asked if he could ride his bike.

The next thing that I knew, he had taken off at lightening speed down the road. He turned the corner with his head hunkered down. I called to him, but he was too far to hear me. I ran, but I was pushing a stroller so I could only go so fast. I truly believed that when he got to the paper box that was around the corner, he would stop and wait for me. As I came around the corner, my heart jumped into my chest. Nick was gone! I searched up and down the road, but there was just no trace. Panicked, I ran to the nearest house and asked the man there to call the police, he handed me his cordless phone and asked what Nick looked like. Then he took off running down the street. I called the police; they took the information and instructed me to stay put.

Of coarse, minutes seemed like life times, and life times where fleeting. I kept thinking, "How am I going to tell Ed (my husband) that I lost one of our children?" Eventually, an officer came to ask me questions. He asked the same questions that had already been asked over the phone. I really think that he was keeping me busy, because I was starting to panic. Then I heard a voice from the officers' radio say that they found Nick. They brought him back to me in a patrol car. He got out of the car and said "Mommy were was you?" Needless to say, I was greatly relieved. The officer said that he was found 13 blocks away! He had crossed numerous intersections three of which are major. When I asked him about the traffic lights, he said"What lights?"

This could have been very bad and yes I took it seriously. Unfortunately, raising children never goes by the book. What is funny about this story is that at the same time this was happening, my husband was at work in the paint department of Home Depot. An off duty officer was telling him about a lost boy. Ed felt bad and hoped that they would find the child safe. A few minutes later, I called and said, "Don't worry, everything is fine, but I thought I lost Nick". Ed had to tell the officer that it was his son that was lost!

That wasn't the only time that Nick was lost before he got old enough to keep track of himself. It has become a family legacy. I am greatly relieved, as he is now married and his wife is the one to worry if he gets lost!

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