I will never forget the day my daughter almost vanished in front of my eyes; it was the most frightening day of my existence. One gloomy, rainy day in late September, I decided to take my three year old daughter, Stacey, grocery shopping. After asking Stacey if she wanted to come with me, the first thing she said was "are we going to Publix?" Of course, that was her favorite location to go! Because of all the treats were placed at her eye level. Due to the fact that my offspring was one of the most happy-go-lucky, vigorous children I have ever met, I expressed to her that "if she behaved while shopping, I would buy her a lollypop". To this day, I am totally convinced that was the first time she sat completely still. There was a handful of times during that shopping trip, When I really thought she was sleeping; she was that quiet!.
As we were strolling outside the Publix store doors, Stacey perked up and asked "Was I good for you mommy? Do I get my lollypop? Will you make sure it is an orange one?" As she started to sputter the words out, I realized that I forgot to grab her candy. Knowing Publix kept their loose candy up at the registers, I told Stacey to sit right there and to keep an eye on the groceries. I knew I would simply be a minute, so I ran back into the store to seize her sweets. I grabbed the candy and rushed back out only to find my daughter gone! As I franticlly ran from one place to another and through the parking lot looking for my precious daughter, I noticed this gray-haired woman walking across the lot. I started to yell, screaming as loudly as I could. I ran up to her only to get into an argument with the woman. This person honestly thought that she had her own daughter. As we were screaming at one another, a polite police officer came to see what the commotion was all about. We both explained what was happening. The police officer asked if we could prove Stacey belonged to one of us.