A Connected Voice: Ray of Light For a Dark Forest

This is the "Ray Forest" story that I posted in my Toumai Blog in 2009 entitled: 

Dial 911 Emergency!! Part 11: Synchronicity, A Connected Voice.  It didn't copy very good, so you

may want to venture to my Toumai Blog to read.  

As I entered, the man standing at the window was the only one in the room. He turned slightly, our eyes meeting for that polite and yet brief ‘nod’ of acknowlegment between strangers. As he began to turn back to the window he stopped short... as did I, both of us doing the 'double take', eyes locking and then bulging as mouths dropped to the floor. My kids reached the top of the step, their chattering cut short as they sensed the silent interchange.

It became deafening-- the silence, and so with eyes still unblinking the words slipped from my lips, “Do you know who I am?”

“You’re the one who saved my life,” the man’s voice was not unlike my own, barely a whisper of shocked disbelief.

“How's your wife... daughter?”

“They’re fine... down there,” he points out the window... to the water park.

The year was 1988, and it was a scorching hot summer’s day... too hot for a long drive in an old beater. No air conditioning and with two kids 9 and 7 meant that little tempers would tend to flare. It was a 5 hour drive from our home in Tatamagouche to my parents in New Brunswick, so the plan was that we would stop just outside of Moncton—Magic Mountain Water Park... you know the gambit, whirling water slides (except for the Kamikaze), humungous wave pool, a manmade river lazily floating hundreds of people with air tubes around the park perimeter... lots of anxious parents trying to keep track of their kids in a sea of squealing wet faces (sigh).

As it turns out, to buy the full day ticket for three is more than I can afford... but there is a “half day” charge which can buy us either four hours in the morning or afternoon. Since the morning was over 2 hours underway, it made sense to wait for the second half... that meant about an hour and half wait. My kids would really like for me to bite the bullet and fork over the money for the full day... they are biting at the bit. The girl at the ticket booth tells us that there’s a spot where we can watch all the activity from above as we wait. I give her a steely look... she obviously doesn’t have children.

That was when I would come face to face with Raymond Forest. So, we stood for a while, entranced and silent before he would give a final little wave, “Well, have to go”... he points out the window.

WHOAH! That was odd... what are the chances?

Now we move back in time to 1984. I am married (but not for much longer) and we are in Tatamagouche on holiday... at least the kids and I are, my husband is working-- a roller operator for a paving crew. His work is seasonal... as the saying goes here in Nova Scotia, ‘we have two seasons— winter and road construction’. His crew has the contract to pave the stretch of highway between Wallace and Tatamagouche and since it is almost 4 hours from our home in the valley, we decide to join him and camp in nearby Fraser Memorial Park. This is great, the park has a swimming pool and I want to teach the kids how to swim.

It’s nearing the end of August and so the camp ground is getting pretty empty, but there is another couple at the other end and they have a young daughter the same age as my son, so we hang out ... and discuss getting together to take our kids for an early morning swim.

I’m not concerned that the life guard won’t arrive until much later, I’m a pretty good swimmer and we plan to stay in the shallow end with the kids. So Mrs. Forest (can’t recall her first name) and I bring our kids to the shallow end and her husband Raymond meanders off to the washroom.

It wasn’t easy getting the kids into the pool... it wasn’t heated and so bitter cold. But in they went among hoots, hollers and lots of splashing. It was over their heads, so the children had to be watched closely. I’m trying to teach my daughter Erin, who is only 3 and a half, to do the doggie paddle ... Chris is five and has already learned, so his goal is to do the cannon ball, doggie paddle to the ladder and do it all over again. Erin’s doing great but I don’t dare take my eyes off... stay close and keep encouraging... she’s squealing with excitement mixed with fear. Mrs. Forest stays close to her daughter as well.

We had completely forgotten about Raymond and nor had we noticed the two young boys who had come along on their bikes and up to the chain link fence at the deep end of the pool to watch the activity. In the meantime Raymond had come back from the washroom, slipped past us and the two boys watched as he dove into the deep end.

At some point amongst all the squealing I heard a young boy’s voice, “hey Lady ... where’s your husband?” Now, when I look back, it seems such an odd thing to say since they already knew full well where he was. Mrs. Forest and I both looked up to see two boys with fingers wrapped through the fence.

Mrs. Forest looked around the pool, “oh he must be still down at the washroom.”
“No he’s not,” the taller boy pokes a finger through the fence toward the deep end... pointing to the water, “he’s down there”.

“Oh, he’s just swimming ...” Mrs. Forest reassures.

Now, I begin to feel that something’s amiss... something about the boys tone... he seems frightened and I suspect that the boy is trying to indicate that all is not well with Raymond... in the pool. Adrenalin and instinct take over... but I remain steely calm as I usher both of my children from the pool and out the gate. I give them instructions to stay on the other side of the fence. Looking back now, this was odd... my children didn’t utter a peep... I wonder if there is a certain “mother” tone that they know by instinct, because for the first time that I recall, they listened and obeyed... gave up their fun without hesitation.

I walk along the side of the pool toward the deep end and see that yes Raymond Forest is down there... not moving... his body suspended from the bottom and almost upright. I jump in and dive under so that I can get a closer look, but I know enough to keep my distance... if he’s in the process of drowning, he could latch on and take me with him. In a situation such as this, and from the many swimming and first aid lessons of my youth, I knew the dangers... and that it would be better to let the victim go unconscious-- to drown so that you can then help.

I could see that even though Raymond was perfectly still, his eyes were still open. This was confusing... but I realized that they were lifeless, an indication that he was unconscious... maybe even dead. I approached and grabbed him by the elbow, and felt surprised at easy he floated to the surface. I pulled him along to the nearest end of the pool... the deep end, I couldn’t just roll him out... but somehow I knew instinctly what to do... I went under him where I managed to then brace myself enough at the pool sides... on a little lip, that enable me to use my body like a lever, lifting him up and then rolling him off my back so that the upper portion of his body came to rest on the pools edge. I pushed the rest of his body out and got out of the pool myself.

It was not a pretty sight, Raymond was blue... his lips deeper blue... purple. He looked dead. I remember hearing a commotion -- the boys taking off like a bat out of hell on their bikes. Hopefully there going for help. Instinct took over—the man’s not breathing... need’s air. So, I do what I have been trained, I tip back his head to open his airway, pull down his chin and proceed to give artificial respiration. I take a deep breath and blow air into his mouth and then turn to look at his chest... it didn’t move... I tried again... still again his chest didn’t move... something must be blocking his airway.

I roll Raymond over, by this time, his wife is there talking ... “Raymond, are you okay honey”—I realize she’s in shock... No, he’s not okay... nor am I... I’m trying to stave off panic and the desire to join the two boys in a mad frenzy! So, I then give Raymond’s back a couple of good pounds and try again... still, there is no sign of his lungs filling up and he looks really, really bad! Then I remember a commercial on tv—the Heimlich technique and I roll him over again, but this time I reach around him (he’s a good sized man) manage to join my hands together just under his rib cage and with all my might, I jerked my hands up and into his stomach. Well, I figured it worked... whatever was lodged in his throat must have come out ...along with his breakfast which now lay at the side of the pool. Not a nice thought... I know... but yes, I positioned him again, pulled back his chin, took a deep breath and blew... looked to see his chest inflate like a giant balloon.

I did this several times... trying to pace myself... trying not to panic. Raymond’s eyes are still open... it’s all so surreal... Mrs. Forest is trying to talk to him and shading his eyes from the sun, “Are you okay honey”... she keeps repeating over and over... her voice sounding so calm... but not right... like the “Stepford wife”...eerie! After a few breaths I stop... I notice that his colouring looks better, but also see that it begins to turn blue... black quite fast... nope, not breathing. So I continue... but I also consider that maybe his heart has stopped and so I alternate between respiration and heart compressions. Now I’m really tiring and so I turn to Mrs. Forest ... “I need your help... you breath while I do the heart compressions. She tries but I see that she doesn’t blow hard enough... she’s in too much shock... this isn’t working.

“Never mind,” I say, “you need to go find help”... go to the camp office (I knew it was closed)... “break in if you have to... get to a phone and get an ambulance !”
Mrs. Forest took off and I continued to work on Raymond. At some point I am wondering what is taking Mrs. Forest so long... though in hind sight I realize that every second was probably like a minute. I keep glancing toward my children... have to ensure they remain safe. Now I’m to the point of passing out from sheer exhaustion. I try to stay calm... to pace myself... but I don’t think I’m winning that battle.

Then I notice from the corner of my eye, a vehicle coming slowly along the dirt road just below. The pool is on a hill and I realize the driver can’t see us. The only chance is to try and stop the car, so I leave Raymond and run down the hill .. I must have looked a wreck... scary even-- flaying my arms... urgency and panic in my voice. The car stopped, it was a young couple... (turns out they were on their honeymoon).

I spoke to the driver... telling the situation, “there’s a man... drowned... up there,” I gasped, pointing toward the chain link fence of the pool... “please, I need your help”. I could see the dynamics between the duo... the young woman was obviously uncomfortable...whispering harshly to her husband... “No... let’s go... let's just go!”, he slowly began to roll up his window and pull away... shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head ... as if to say “sorry we don’t want any!”

I couldn’t believe it... I refused to believe it! And then I did something I would never have thought I to have the nerve to do. I threw myself on top of the hood as the car pulled away... I pounded on the hood, shouting “STOP!”... hm, guess I was prepared to be a permanent hood ornament otherwise.

The young man stopped the car and stepped out... looking very sheepish. I simply pointed to the hill—“UP! MOVE IT!!” I was pissed... not taking no for an answer! Again folks... this is out of character for me... seriously... I'm embarrassed remembering ... but what else was one to do... just let the man die?!

We both stood looking down on Raymond, who by this time, was a very deep shade of blue/grey .

The young looked panic stricken “I don’t know what to do?”

“All you need to do is blow... he’s all set up”... can’t believe I said that!

So, there we are... working for what seems an eternity... Raymond is still not breathing on his own and I am thinking it's hopeless, he's gotta be dead... noone can look that bad for that long and live... would they? I'm desperate... wondering what happened to Mrs. Forest... did she walk to town (about 2 miles)? She was in shock... maybe she was too confused to be of help.

The young man caught on fast.

“I’m going to get to a phone... get an ambulance”... and I took off toward the camp office... I was prepared to bust a window to get to a phone.

As I near the office I hear an ambulance ... no words can describe my relief. By the time the attendants with stretcher make it up the hill, Raymond is breathing on his own... very sparodic and laboured—rattling with water... he's unconscious but his body is now in convulsing ... still looking a little bluish...but very much alive.

Raymond remained comatose for a number of hours... I guess there was concern that he would suffer brain damage... and that was my concern as well... the thought of helping to save someone only for them to live on as a vegetable was a horrible thought. But this story would have a happy ending. Raymond would not remember a thing of what happened, but other than that, his mental capabilities were normal. He did have some complications ... serious bout of pneumonia that would keep him in hospital for several more weeks.

So, our lives went on... but within two weeks, I would leave my husband (irreconcilable differences), with the experience with Raymond etched permanently in my mind. Funny, in some way this event played a big part in giving me the courage and strength to deal with the horrors of my life—to put all of that into perspective and to move on... with my children, to a new life. When things were near unbearable, I remembered that though things may seem hopeless, and as long as there is a spark of life, things can turn around.

Now, return again to 1988 it's four years and a new life later— a new home, budding career, happy healthy children... and Raymond Forest and I have crossed paths a second time... JUST OUT OF THE BLUE! Or so that is what I would think back then. Now thought, now I know otherwise. And again, now, as I trudge down the treacherous path of the last 9 years, I continually remind myself that things can often seem very bad... dead even... but it’s about not giving up because even a tiny spark is all that is needed to rekindle life.

So, let's skip the Synchronicity question because that at least is obvious isn't it?! So lets try and move on to the real question... because I do think there is a matter that is very pressing-- WHY?! WHY are these things happening? that is what the last 9 years of my life has been about... waking up and coming to terms with this parallel world and my parallel self/twin, the ones who generate the synchronicities and a whole lot more, things that I/we (at least some and likely most of us) have been completely oblivious to. And I have gone beyond even that to know the urgent message that they are trying to convey.

So perhaps we all understand a little more about this driving force... a powerful force not unlike that of the tidal waters surrounding my shores of Acadie/Nova Scotia... and as I mentioned before, the tides here are some of the highest in the world.