Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Vincent

December 24, 2008 – Christmas Eve – Grass Valley, CA
It was just another stop at the grocery store to pick up some last minute provisions for Christmas, meandering through the holiday crowd, trying to get out the door and back home to get the ham cooking. As my mom and I were exiting the store, I looked over and noticed a blonde woman and her teenage son waving at us. I slowed down and waved back, not recognizing who it was, but assuming that she was waving at my mom, I stopped her and pointed her towards who was waving. My mom turned and instantly recognized them, telling me that it was Vincent. I couldn’t have been more surprised.
It was back in 2000 or 2001, when I was still a volunteer with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, when we got a call for a missing autistic boy off Squirrel Creek Rd. His name was Vincent. He had gone missing a year before, turning up at a neighbor’s house down the street. Now he had taken off again. So, our first night was spent knocking on a lot of doors, checking the neighborhood and the woods behind his home. Also missing was the family dog, which was reassuring, because we knew that the dog would be with Vincent, protecting him wherever he went and keeping him warm. It was a long night, as we did not find anything, and it was getting cold. But there was no giving up.
Early the next morning, we widened the search area and I found myself on a quad-runner with some of the other guys, checking every trail, under every bush, in every possible direction we could think of. When there was still no sign of him or the dog, we kept going, rechecking areas we had already checked and looking for more areas we hadn’t. The day dragged on, ever so slowly, like God was giving us more time to find him. Still nothing.
Daylight was running out, the temperature was dropping again, and we knew that if we didn’t find Vincent tonight, he might not survive another night. We got on our quad-runners once again and went down a dirt road that led to a wooded area about a mile behind Vincent’s home. It was an area that had been checked earlier that day, but when you’re dealing with a young autistic boy on the move, there was no telling which direction he would be going. The three of us dismounted and checked the map. We decided to start walking into the woods to check a small ravine. I walked along the bottom of the ravine, while Gary and Josh stayed up top to my left and right. We walked slowly, taking turns calling his name, looking for any clues on the ground in front of us and around us. It was quiet and it was cold, but God was with us that day. He was with Vincent. As we walked, and as we called out for Vincent, we got a reply. “Grandma?” We stopped, afraid to make a sound. Again, we heard it. “Grandma?” First we looked at each other, making sure that we had all heard it. Then they looked, and there he stood. “There he is,” I heard one of them call. I walked up to the top of the ravine on my left and saw for my own eyes. A young boy stood there, frozen in place, his dog standing guard, barking at us as we stood frozen in place as well, so surprised by our discovery.
Did we find Vincent or did Vincent find us? We approached cautiously so as not to alarm the dog and let him know that we were there to help Vincent. Sensing this, the dog submitted and allowed us to check Vincent. He was a little nervous, a bit cold, and a little stinky from weathering the elements, but he was on his own two feet and ready to go home. A call went out over the radio to the Incident Command Center back up the road, notifying them that Vincent was alive and well and we were bringing him back. I took off my jacket and put it around Vincent to keep him warm and we took turns carrying him back to where we had parked the quad-runners. With the dog at our sides, Gary loaded Vincent in front of him on his quad and we made the return trip with a helicopter over our heads and three satisfied minds.
This memory has always stayed fresh in my mind, and so it feels like it only happened recently. It wasn’t until today, upon seeing Vincent and his mom Deanna that I realized that about eight years had passed and Vincent was now a teenager, still struggling with autism. I don’t believe Vincent recognized me, as it had been so long, but he still wanted to give me a hug and wish me a Merry Christmas, as he truly is a kind-hearted boy.
Before parting, Deanna gave me her email address and told me to email her so we could stay in contact. I shook Vincent’s hand and wished him and Deanna a Merry Christmas before walking out the door. It was such a surprise to me to see them after all these years, and it has now brought back feelings that I hadn’t felt since that day.
Their lives have changed over the years, as has mine. When we were searching for Vincent, I was at a time in my life when I was very unsure in my faith. I had so many unanswered questions and still doubted that God was real. Recently though, life has taken a huge turn for the better. A year ago I started going through basic training, and at the same time started reconnecting with God. In June of 2008 I arrived at my first duty station in Savannah, GA and met the love of my life in November of that same year. As our relationship grew stronger, she made it clear to me that if I wanted to be with her, I had to have a strong relationship with God. It was through her that I started strengthening that relationship, in turn strengthening my relationship with her.
Everyday I feel myself coming closer to God, and everyday I feel my love for Laura growing stronger. It is because of this that my life is becoming so real and how the meaning of life is becoming so clear. To love and be loved. Is that the true meaning of life? I cannot say for sure. What I can say for sure though is that is my answer to the meaning of life. What is yours?

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