Something is wrong......
Very, very wrong. But it is wrong in the way like when you see something and parts of it don't make sense and you struggle to identify what isn't as it should be, but the "off" part is elusive...at least at first.
The first time I consciously felt this happen was when I was flying over the open ocean. As I watched out the window, my brain searched for some familiar observation to match up with what my eyes were seeing. It appeared to be mountains with snow caps or maybe pavement with snow drifts, only different. But when that scenario didn't work for what I knew (Flying over open water), I had to re-think what I was seeing within the context of the current location. When I did that, I realized that what i was seeing was white caps on the huge ocean swells.
This thinking association also happens with those drawings that are a "young woman" or an "old woman" when viewed in different ways. What one person sees first is supposed to say something about their personality, or their health status, or how many cats they will eventually own, or something. To be honest, I don't really remember. For years, I could only see the old woman and I seem to be doing ok.
Anyway, let's get back to the story.
We had driven to Missouri on a road trip. We raked leaves, carved pumpkins and finally arrived at the home of one of my classmate, and good friend where we were joining in a paranormal investigation that night.
Let me explain that ghosts aren't necessarily one of my preferred things to interact with, but I wanted to see Donie and her husband, Sean and this was a great excuse to make the trip to do just that.
On our drive down, I had been telling my adventure partner, Danette about Donie and her ability to save any living creature; be it human, cat, dog, skunk, badger, raccoon, chicken or anything else for that matter. It seems that every time we are together, she is saving something. It is actually quite amazing.
We got to the house a little earlier than the others and Donie was filling us in on the history of the house, the schoolhouse and paranormal activity on the property and nearby area. She introduced us to her six recue dogs and numerous cats. We all quickly became friends.
Once everyone had arrived, we were divided into groups, and my group was sent to the cemetery first. we were just pulling back into the driveway when I noticed the dogs barking from within their enclosed yard. This, in itself, was not unusual. they had announced our arrival many times that evening. Only this time, it was different. Something was "off".
As I studied the situation, I realized that while the dogs were indeed barking, they were not facing us as they had been before. Instead of facing the fence and barking at us, they were standing in a circle and barking at a limp, lifeless form on the ground at the back of the yard. As I realized what it was that I was seeing, I thought about entering the back yard, but those dogs didn't know me. Instead, we ran into the house and got Donie.
She got the dogs away from the lifeless form of a medium sized dog with a yellow coat whose name was Tess. There was blood on the ground...lots of it. I watched as my friend felt for a pulse and looked for breathing on Tess. When she was sure there was none, she began chest compressions and breathing in an effort to save her. We watched from the gate. I wondered if I should enter the yard and help, but I wasn't sure I wouldn't be more in the way.
More people came to stand at the gate. Donie continued to provide oxygen and circulation. After several cycles, she checked for a pulse once again. This time, it was there. She scooped Tess up in her arms and brought her to the gate. We held the gate open for her as she carried her pup that now was alive, but had still lost a lot of blood, into the house.
I grabbed my medical kit from the car and ran upstairs with it. Donie had Tess in the shower to try and find the source of her bleeding and extent of her wounds. I watched and handed supplies to my friend as she worked tirelessly to suture wounds, start an IV for fluids and use blow driers to warm the injured dog.
Everyone had a job. Danette learned the principals of rate and flow of an IV bag and how to watch for drips, raise the bag for faster flow or lower it to slow it down.
Once we knew that Tess would be ok, or at least that there was nothing more that anyone, but Donie could do, we returned to our group and resumed the paranormal investigation.
We cooked hot dogs over a fire, met lots of new people and made new friends. We sat in a cemetery until about 2 AM. We went back to the fire and cooked s'mores. I even found three people that were willing to play in the Human Slingshot (Vat19 product) with me at 0230 in the morning before they headed home.
As I think back on that weekend, I am reminded that people are in the place they are because that is where they are supposed to be. Each of us has a purpose and while you may not know for certain exactly what that is at this moment, it doesn't change that fact.
Sometimes it is to get help for someone or sometimes it is to BE the help for someone. Sometimes it is to run an IV bag. Sometimes it is to just be there for someone you may not even know, in a way that you may never understand.
Sometimes, it is to be the fourth person willing to play in the Human Slingshot.
REFERENCES:
Bethel Schoolhouse and Missouri Paranormal Investigations on www.Facebook.com
The Human Slingshot on youtube and www.vat19.com
Epilogue: as I was finishing writing this (originally published November 2016), I got a notification that Tess was not able to overcome her injuries and passed away. My deepest sympathies go out to Donie and Sean for their loss. This post is dedicated to the memory of Tess.
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