When my daughter was 3 years old, MDB and I took her and our nephew, aged 5, swimming and paddling at Abenakee Lake. That's roughly 2 hours from home. We paddled, we picnicked, we swam at the town of Indian Lake beach. Had a great time. Round about 5:30 P, we figured we should pack up and head home. As we strolled back to the car, I reached for the car key that wasn't in the pocket of my swim shorts...No big deal, I must have left it in the ignition. I casually glanced in the open window as we got to the car, hmmm, no key. Oh well, I must have left it in the lock for the hatchback. As I slowly walked around the back of the car and saw the key wasn't there either, MDB asks what's up. I explain. She explodes!! Well, it must be back on the sand where we were lounging. Meanwhile, I'm imagining the scenario...walk out the mile of dirt road to the main road, try to find a phone to use (no cell phones then), try to contact someone to access our house and then drive up with the spare key...I thinking 3 maybe 4 hours, kids are tired, hungry...and still another 2 hour drive home.
So I start searching the sand, and some dude asks me if I'm looking for a key. Yeah, did you find one? No, he says, but the guy that just drove away did, gave it to the lifeguard. I see the cloud of dust, but the car is long gone.
Hope against hope, I ask the lifeguard. He produces my key, and explains that the guy that just left...yeah, I know. I ask if it was in the sand.
Nope, the guy found it it the lake, stepped on it, so the story goes!
That little miracle was 32 years ago, remember it like it was yesterday.
