abduction

On Saturday my younger brother, Daniel, and I witnessed a strange event in the Culver's parking lot in Sioux Falls. We had just dropped my sister's friend who was here for the wedding off at the air port, and decided to get a little lunch at Culver's. As we were leaving, we saw a group of people racing to a vehicle (we thought they were playing). As they struggled with each other, it became evident that they were not playing, as they began to drop things and not pick them up. We continued out of the restaurant, and saw a disturbing scene in front of us. A group of people--three women and at least one man--were struggling over a little girl who was approximately two. As we walked into the parking lot, one of the women saw us and yelled that someone was trying to kidnap the child, and that we should call the police. So we did, watching with horror as one of the women continued to try to take the child from the man. There was much yelling and some scuffling. We waited for the police to come, and when they did (three cop cars in the Culver's parking lot) we had to talk to them, wait for them to talk to the people, and talk to us again, and then wait for them to tell us we could go (after we gave them our names, addresses, and phone numbers.) Turns out the father had custody of the little girl, and the mother was trying to take her. The whole situation was quite sobering. I imagine what life will be like for this little girl. She will begin her life with so many disadvantages. And then I think about my childhood, and the commitment my parents had to each other and our family, and I can't imagine not having that constancy. Makes me a little sad.

Happy 2007. We stayed up with relatives from out of town last night. It was a good time with a little Dutch Blitz and a little Settlers. Reuben won Settlers. Autumn won Dutch Blitz.

Scott is in Winnipeg. And I go back to B.C. Friday. Tomorrow morning Daniel and I bring John to Omaha. This has been a busy break.