Stories about hope

TOON TOWN

I recently returned to the scene of the crime. The place in the happiest place on earth that gives me anxiety. 

I haven’t visited in a long time. But on a recent trip to Disneyland with my eldest son and his family I went back. And panic happened all over again. 

I was holding my 2-year-old granddaughter. My son was holding his son, and my Daughter-in-law was leading the way through the crowd. 

Evan said and pointed, “Oh look guys, it’s Pluto!” 

I walked in the direction where Evan was pointing so my granddaughter and I could get a better look at Pluto through the crowd. 

3 seconds, I stood there for 3 seconds. 

I turned around, still holding my little granddaughter, thinking my family would be right behind me. However, Evan, my grandson & Ariana were GONE. 

MY HEART STARTED RACING. IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN!!

I looked at my granddaughter and said, “We are fine, I’ve got you.” 

She of course was not phased at all that her gramma was suppressing the overwhelming desire to scream in terror. 

After what felt like an eternity, I saw my daughter-in-law staring at me. Relief washed over me.

I’m ok. I’m ok. I’m ok. 

AND THE MEMORIES FLOODED IN 

Hunter, Brandon, Evan & I were on a Disney Date together. Hunter was 3, Brandon was 7, Evan was 10 or 11. 

The 2 older boys wanted to ride the “GO-COASTER”. 

Hunter was too little, so they got in line while Hunter and I stood at the exit gate to watch. He was a good little guy but he was a little upset that we had to leave Chip and Dales treehouse so his brothers could ride the big boy ride. 

After some convincing and a promised snack after the ride, he complied.

Once the boys boarded, the plan was for Hunter to hang on to my pocket so I could video the boys on the ride. We often did this without incident. I could feel Hunters hand even when I wasn’t looking directly at him. 

The other riders were off loaded, the boys got on and I started to record. That’s when I realized something was missing. I looked down at where Hunter was SUPPOSED to be standing. 

HE WAS GONE!!

The older boys were blissfully unaware as to what was happening as they rode the 19 second coaster. They would be ok I thought. They have each other and Evan was born to lead so I knew he’d be fine watching over his younger brother. 

I left the stroller and all our belongs and started to run. 

My first thought was “He went back to the treehouse.” 

I screamed his name and ran asking if anyone had seen a blonde-haired little boy. Parents looked at me like I was a crazed lunatic. 

They weren’t wrong. 

I ran up the stairs and looked through the entire treehouse. He wasn’t there. 

I ran back toward the “Go coaster” passing Evan and Brandon who were standing by the stroller now. 

I shouted to them “I’ve lost Hunter, stay there.”

I found a cast member and said “I’ve lost my 3-year-old” please help me. 

The fear was choking me. The tears were pouring down my red face. I was a mess. 

I surmised that as the crowd of people exited the “Go-coaster” he was swept up in the flow, thinking somehow that we would be leaving as well. 

Toon Town wasn’t a huge place but at that moment it felt like it was a National Forest. 

I don’t know how long it was but eventually I ran past a little family sitting on the curb near the exit. I overheard the mom (who was patting a cute little blonde-haired boy on the back) say, 

“I know she’ll find you. We will wait right here.”

I stopped running when My heart said, “Turn around”. 

I turned and looked at his little tear-stained red face and fell to my knees. 

I’ve never felt such relief. This wasn’t like losing your wallet, your keys or a dog.

 This was my son. 

There he was sitting with a sweet little family, crying his eyes out. 

I managed to get to where he was and said “Hunter!!” 

I was mad. Mad at myself. What an idiot for losing a kid. 

But I couldn’t let that emotion out. 

My sweet little son was lost. And now he was found. 

He jumped up and ran into my arms. 

I was full on sobbing but was able to blurt out to the mystery family “Thank you, Thank you so much.”

I didn’t know what else to say. 

To Hunter I said, “I was so worried, I’m so sorry, you are ok now.”

I picked him up and walked back to the boys. After Placing Hunter in the stroller and buckling him in, I asked the boys if we could get the promised snack. 

I wanted to go home, curl up in a ball and rock back and forth in a fetal position after that emotional full on panic attack. But I couldn’t it wasn’t the boy’s fault. So off for a snack we went.

We settled on ice cream. Chocolate Ice Cream. 

That was the best Chocolate Ice Cream I ever had. 

“And what do you think, if a man owns 100 sheep and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the 99 on the hill and go to look for the 1 that wandered off. And when he finds him, I tell you the truth, he will be happier about that 1 sheep than about the 99 that did not wander away. In the same way it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” Matthew 18:13-14