Frightening true story I need to tell

[Miss Mary]

I need to share a very frightening incident that occurred in our family, in 1994. With what just happened to poor, innocent Carlie in Florida and now local stories about children being approached by sick-sick individuals, the time is NOW to tell you all this story.

This happened on vacation, again in 1994. My children were 4 and 7 then. Our first stop was Buffalo, NY to see Niagara Falls. Then our plan was to go on into Canada (several cities in Ontario). We spent the night in Buffalo, then drove to Niagra Falls the next morning (a Sunday I think). It was a very busy, July day. Many, many families were there. People everywhere! We went on the Maid of the Mist, since my husband went on it as a child and said that was the best way to see the Falls. After weaving our way off the boat, one very nice retired couple said hello to us. They asked our daughters if they had enjoyed the boat ride. Of course they did! There were 2 or 3 lines forming, between the metal bars to take elevators up to street level. I believe this couple asked where we were from, and of course we said Cincinnati. They were from a state west of here I think, I want to say Iowa. Anyway, we had a one minute very polite conversation with this nice couple. We went ahead in line and lost track of them. Suddenly in the line next to us were 2 men. A father and son (late teens) we were told. They began talking to us and had heard the conversation we had just had with the other couple. They said - oh you're from Cincinnati! Then began mentioning things about Cincy. The Reds, etc. But right from the start, they talked to us in such an intent way it alarmed me. They were in our faces and wouldn't leave us alone. The father was oriental and so was the son. They didn't speak English very clearly but clear enough to understand them. If I remember correctly I think they said they lived in San Francisco. Jim was holding Laura, who was 4. The son was very intent on holding her. He tried to get Laura from Jim's arms, saying oh she's so cute, come here. Jim said oh no, she's shy. I'm watching this from 2 feet away, I have control of Nina, 7. Red flags are going up in my head, big time. But I thought well maybe in their native country (China, Japan?) they are this friendly? The line kept moving forward to the elevators. At one point we should have lost them. But then went around other families to get next to us. At this point those red flags are waving in my face. I should add that Laura was at the stage when she fought us on walking anywhere. Yes she's our baby and would always want strollers or to be held. We didn't pack a stroller for this vacation. So Jim put her down to walk next to him. We had explained to her in the car, no holding you or strollers. You're a big girl now. The elevators doors open, we got in ours and they should have gotten in another elevator. The father and son got in our elevator, cutting in front of other people. Jim put us in a corner. And I demanded he pick up Laura, since he had control of Laura. I will never forget mouthing those words - PICK HER UP NOW! I am usually not bossy at all. I had one arm around Nina's chest, very-very tight, the other her shoulders. To anyone else it would have looked like I was just giving her a tight hug. But she weighed 70 pounds then and was very tall for her age. Looking back I should have just picked her up, who cares what that would have looked like! This is getting to be a long story, bear with me please. But it needs to be told. I leaned down into her ear and said under no circumstances was she to talk to those men, leave with them, and to stay with her parents. I then said they were very bad men. I will also never forget the look on her face - utter shock - and the way her eyes slowly looked up into mine. The doors open and the son tried to get us to walk right into a gift shop. Come shop with us, come this way he was saying. I wasn't about to go in there, no way. Our kids love gift shops and maybe Nina said hey let's go in here. Jim grabbed us, he's holding Laura and I have the tightest grip on Nina that I could and we walked so fast to the street. Within seconds we ditched them and were walking with hundreds of other families on the sidewalk. I then looked over at Jim and he said, and I will never forget these words either - those men were molesters Mary. I could have fainted on the spot, I was a walking mass of jelly. But we walked very fast to the car, got in, locked all the doors and then I started crying. Without giving our girls too many disturbing details, we confirmed they were bad men. I wanted to turn right around and go home, forget our vacation. But Jim said no let's continue on. And we did just that. But in our hotel room that night in Barrie, Ontario I asked him to hug me after the kids had gone to sleep. We didn't want to scare them too much. Laura had no idea she was in danger, she's too young to really remember it. But Nina remembers it and both girls now talk about it. When stories like Carlie's break, they bring up Niagara Falls. It did mar that trip for me and I always think of it, when I hear of N. Falls. I don't see the water or the beauty of it, I see 2 evil men trying to distract us and kidnap our children. Looking back we should have gone right to a police officer to give them a good description. And we did that, but a few days later by phone. Not in person. At the time all I wanted to do was get as far away from Niagara Falls as possible. The police confirmed it's a real problem in Niagara Falls because the border is right there. They can whisk children in and out and they are never found again. It is truly the most frightened I have ever been in my entire life. I honestly thought as this was all going on - mere minutes mind you - that I was imagining the situation. I'm the worrier in our family, Jim is the calm one. He's the one you want in an emergency! But when he confirmed my worst fears, I nearly lost it. I am so much more aware of busy touristy places like Niagara Falls now. Even local establishments like the Children's Museum, Kings Island, parks or libraries. Anywhere children are and parents can become distracted. If I see a lost child wandering around looking for a parent I immediately now go up to an employee, I never get involved (b/c my actions could be miscontrued), to alert them of the situation. As soon as I see that employee take that child by the hand, I relax. In other words, my parent-radar is up now. And has been since 1994. I encourage all good people/parents to get their radar up now, after what happened to young Carlie. If you see a situation that doesn't seem right to you, tell someone in charge. A store employee or a police officer. If you're incorrect and that adult is the parent and the child is just giving him/her a hard time, well then it's just a mistake. Better to be wrong than sorry IMHO.

I've shared this story with a few of you (Cyclone/Graham and I think Azskyman/Steve). But the time is right to share it with everyone. I'm not saying we should overprotect our kids or shelter them in such a way they themselves are frightened all the time, but be aware there are twisted people in this country who want to do our innocent children harm.

Thanks for reading. I think I need to have a good cry now and hug my kids even longer when they come in from school today. I do that occasionally when stories like Carlie's break and they know instantly what my thoughts are - Niagara Falls Mom? I say yes with a deep, deep sigh.

Mary

[StormCrazyIowan]

Thanks for sharing Mary- what an awful ordeal to go through! I'm so very glad that your family didn't fall victim to those nasty men! It just makes me sick- I will NEVER understand how people can have such a capacity for hatred and madness! When I have children, I will definitely be aware of my surroundings at all times!

[firefighter16]

I will never look at vacation areas the same.......

Thank you Mary..

[azskyman]

Mary...indeed I remember you sharing this with me. The boldness you recall is absolutely chilling to me.

With granddaughter Emma living in the shadow of Danielle Van Dam's neighborhood in San Diego (about 2 miles away), it is easy to fall into an overprotective state of mind.

Still...I can't tell you how many times we see a parent walking ahead of a child at the mall or in a store or even in a park...oblivious to the risk.

Carlie's story is a sad reminder of our need to be ever-vigilant.

[Stephanie]

I'm so sorry that you and your family had to experience that Miss Mary!

This is unrelated to the the girls possibly being kidnapped, but I know what you mean by "red flags". My ex-husband and I were in Busch Gardens in Va on vacation. We were walking between the different "countries" on a sidewalk. There was a young girl - perhaps pre-teen - walking right behind Dan. If he stopped, she would've walked into him. I immediately thought that she was looking to snatch his wallet and I calmly but firmly said to him "Dan, come over here next to me, now". He did and I glared at the young girl who looked at me and then proceeded on. She didn't look confused as to why I glared at her, I think we kind of had a "meeting of the minds". I told him what I thought she was about to do after she walked away.

[weatherlover427]

Very shocking and sad story Miss Mary. I'm happy that you and your kids (and Jim) are ok and can talk about the incident to this day. It is indeed sad that so many molestation and kidnapping incidents seem to be happening these days.

[stormraiser]

Overprotective? Is there such a thing? I was giving my 11 year old son a little more freedom, but now none of my children do anything, ANYTHING, out of my sight when we are out and about. I am not taking any chances.

[Miss Mary]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I'll keep this short since my original message speaks for itself. I mainly just wanted to get the word out to caring individuals such as ourselves. We outnumber the people who commit such unspeakable, horrible acts against children. It's time we united I think. I've wanted to share that story for a long time here but the time just didn't seem right. Until recently. Thanks for allowing me to do just that.

Mary

[2 Seam Fastball]

Wow very sad story Mary. I hope all is well.

[Miss Mary]

Wow very sad story Mary. I hope all is well.

Yes sad story Tom. But a happy ending just the same. We're fine, just more careful than I was prior to this scary encounter. The details are still fresh in my mind, almost 10 years later. You just don't forget something like this, even if your memory is getting foggy sometimes. LOL Typing this post yesterday brought it all to surface but it's never really that far away either. I decided then and there to learn from it, be more cautious but to allow my kids to have a childhood at the same time. Sure hope that makes sense! If I had my way that day, we would have driven all night just to get home! Jim was the voice of reason, he said we'd be safe and we were. I didn't quite relax on that trip.

Mary