With ourselves packed in the car and no where particular we had to be, since our district continues to strike, we found our way to the local farm to wander.
We walked the grounds and followed our usual path. This time, my daughter had her favorite doll, Curly Shirley, along for the adventure. My children fed the ducks, sheep, Alpacas, and goats while making sure each of the animals all had the same amount of food. They sat on the ground and talked to a duck who was very vocal and followed right beside them, hoping to snag another piece of food. But, the duck didn't look too amused by the conversation that unfolded, he was by far, more interested in the food. My daughter did her usual reading to the baby cows. And, over in the horse barn, they played Santa delivering presents in a vintage horse drawn sleigh to all the animals on the farm. Each of them took turns "pulling the sleigh" and the other, being Santa.
But throughout our walk, my daughter must have dropped her beloved doll without realizing, and we walked away. She has had that doll since she first came home from the hospital and it goes everywhere with her -usually, she carries her in the back carrier, but this time, she decided to hold her. After being at the farm for about 2 hours or so, we buckled ourselves into the car to drive home. It was then my daughter freaked out and realized curly Shirley wasn't with us. So we unbuckled ourselves and ran top speed while retracing our steps. As I silently wished some other child didn't walk off with the doll and take her home.
We checked every inch of the grounds, my son and daughter running besides me, and my daughter had tears streaming down her face. We stopped in all the outpost buildings and asked the workers if they have seen the doll on the floor or left on one of the counters, but no one saw her. Even other people at the farm were on the look out for Curly Shirley.
But, as we rounded the last corner by the pig's pen, we saw her sitting high up on the fence. My daughter took off running and pulled Curly Shirley into her arms and repeatedly said, "thank you, thank you!" She must have dropped her while we were talking to the pig and because she's not used to carrying her, we didn't realize she wasn't with us.
And, some lovely human must have placed her high up so she could be found. What an incredible person to take the time to do that. Thank you to whom ever that was. May your day be awesome!
(Her beloved doll with a lipstick stain forever etched onto her lips, that apparently, no amount of washing will ever remove).
Also, because of that person's kind act, it helped as a visual for my daughter. Each time we're out and she stumbles upon a toy or something laying on the ground, I always tell her to leave it where it is, so the person who is missing it, can find it. Either, we'll put it high up (just like that person did with Curly Shirley) or leave it as it was. I always say, it's easier to do that because people tend to retrace their steps when searching (again, just like we did). So, she was utterly happy with the end result and a hands on learning experience took place as well...
So, as we walked back to our car, this time, with tears of joy on her face, she vowed to never take Curly Shirley to a place without her carrier. Not only to keep her safe, but to keep her close to her heart as well...
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