It has been almost 40 years now since my brother found a bloated blue body washed up on the Lake Erie shore. I remember it well because it was my sister Stephanie's birthday, March 18th. It was one of those unusually warm March days where the sun beckoned you to come and play outside. Ah, nothing like feeling warm breezes across your face and seeing green grass again after suffering through a long Northern Ohio winter. The town I lived in is named Bay Village. It is a wonderful little place nestled on the southern shores of Lake Erie. Our family lived directly across the street from a private boat launch known to all local residents as the Bay Boat Club. Stephanie and I often went there to skip rocks because you can find the world's greatest skipping stones on it's beaches. And on this particular day we just couldn't wait to get out of the house and enjoy the new smells of spring. There is nothing better than spending a whole morning looking for the perfect rock while the friendly sun melts your cold winter bones. Little did Stephanie and I know, but our brother Don was also walking the beach on that particular morning. He too was down by the Bay Boat Club, but we couldn't see him because he was on the other side of a large peninsula of rock. This area of beach is rarely walked because it often is a catch basin for dead fish, gnarly pieces of driftwood, and garbage. He was there with our dog Buff looking for good pieces of driftwood for him to go fetch in the water. As Don was concentrating on gathering good throwing sticks, Buff began rolling on something blue. "Buff, get off the dead fish." Not again. We all hated it when our dog would roll on the dead fish that washed to shore. There is nothing worse than a dog with dead fish stink; and then having our dad demanding the 'stupid mutt' to be washed before he came back into the house. So Don yelled again, "Buff, get over here!" But he wouldn't respond. So as Don went up to grab him he noticed that this was no dead fish the dog was rolling on, it was a bloated blue body of a dead man! "Buff, get off now!" And when Buff heard the serious intent in his voice he quickly jumped up. Instantly, my brother ran to local police department to report his findings. As Stephanie and I were skipping stones, the police sirens could be heard approaching in the distance. "Steph, what is going on? We better get out of here they might be coming after us?" As we ran away from shore and up into the woods lining the Boat Club's drive, we saw a couple police cars pull into where my brother found the body. We ran home not waiting to see what actually was going on. A few hours later a police car drove up into our driveway and dropped off my brother. "You guys won't believe what happened?" Don came into the family kitchen and described the days incredible events. How could you ever forget that day? Over the next few weeks my brother received a commendation from the police department for his bravery, and then news reports kept coming out with details on the story of the missing man. It turns out this person was attending a New Years Eve party in Sandusky, Ohio at a house that overlooked Lake Erie. It was determined that he went outside to get some air, but he failed to realize that the backyard had a cliff that dropped off into the icy cold waters of a nearly frozen Lake Erie. As he dropped down a few hundred feet, he died on impact and was caught in an ice flow that eventually brought him to his resting spot on the Bay Boat Club shore. Through the months of January thru March he was reported missing; all the while his body floated a good 45 miles in two and half months. Wierd. Why do I tell you this? Well, because it is my sister's 50th birthday today. We had spent some great times together and I don't want to forget our memories of the past. I don't want to lose them, so I write. Also, those days of childhood seemed so long ago, and boy were they peaceful. No big endeavors to undertake, no deadlines, no one demanding me to be somebody, no wondering if I am failure or success? All I wanted to do was find the perfect skipping stone, that is it! Where did those days go? Why doesn't it seem like our kids have those kinds of days anymore? Parents, why do we demand so much? Why are we always wanting our children to be better than the other kids, do more, compete, compete, compete? Don't you want your kids to feel how smooth and heavy a skipping stone is in your hand...I know I do? Don't you want your kid to just go outside and soak in the sun, get dirty, and listen to silence? I find that I always feel guilty if I don't have my kids involved. Man, I am not doing enough. I need to be a Tiger Dad and demand excellence all the time. But as I think about it, isn't that a bit controlling? Isn't this another area of our life where we have taken the place of God? Like a good stew, can't we allow our kid's souls to simmer in the mundane and grace of life, instead of always turning the heat up on our kids? Too much heat causes things to boil, and is that really good? "Oh, don't you see, They need to win championships, they need to practice, they need to join clubs, have sleep overs, make great grades, and never miss out!" MISS OUT ON WHAT? There is no one like my sister Steph. (Except for my daughter Jasmine). She didn't like to compete, she loved being outside, she forced me to join in her enjoying a slow paced life. I thank God for her. I learned two great things from her: (1) A person matters because they are there with you in the moment, not always running to next event. (2) Enjoy small things...like a good skipping stone...because you will become a better person for it. Why not take some time today to let the sun melt your cold winter bones? Go outside with your kids. Throw sticks to the dog, quit feeling like you have to impress everyone with how busy you are. And you never know, if you enjoy the day with no agenda whatsoever, you might even find a dead body along the way! Wouldn't that be nice?
5 Comments
ChesterSon
3/18/2015 02:18:30 am
Very Nice! A good kicker at the end is always appreciated.
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Doug
3/18/2015 02:21:10 am
On our "Chris Week's Reality Tour" that beach was a hot spot. We skipped smooth stones in the very location even took some pictures to verify some of the stories that were told form the pulpit. Bay Village is a very cool city. It is interesting to see when someone returns to "home", and how things are the same yet very different. From the high school football field to the recreational park it was awesome to see the actual places that you described. I have to say your story telling was right on. The descriptions of buildings, houses, fields, water frontage, retail stores, were just as I imagined them. God has so gifted you to be able to describe things and tell it in such a way we feel like we have been there. Thanks for sharing the details of your life with all of us here at KCBC!
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Chris
3/18/2015 02:40:50 am
boy Doug, that means a lot! Thanks my friend!
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Jesse K...
3/18/2015 10:39:11 pm
Chris,
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chris
3/19/2015 04:16:27 am
Jesse, your encouragement means an awful lot. I pray for you often to really find the sabbath you need! Your family is fantastic!
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