The Search Begins

            The beginning of the search party took a painfully long time to organize. The sheriff showed up late and so I was uncertain of how I should handle the volunteers. After many phone calls and few confirmations I was deeply afraid that there were not sufficient numbers to make the search effort worthwhile. As the time neared 7:30 only eight people had shown up. But my apprehensions were cleared as the evening bore on and soon close to 75 were congregated at Sheldrake point. I was glad to see the turnout but was anxious to have people start searching since daylight was rapidly dwindling.

             It was close to 9 pm by the time search groups were set up and destinations along the west shore were designated. I felt as though I had lost my voice as I tried insisting on getting a group to go with me to the east shore where I felt was the most likely place where Chris might be found. I was close to going by myself but eventually managed to convince a couple folks to come with me. After acquiring contact information for the people who were already on the east shore I set off with my small crew. Unfortunately my car was nearly out of gas and so I frantically looked for a station to refill the tank. The first one I found was closed and I was deeply scared that I might run out of gas and not be able to make it to the other shore. The next station was well-lit though, which was a great relief. I hastily popped the gas cap and began to pump. Normally I would have written down my gas mileage for my dad's records but I had no time now. As soon as the tank was full I jumped back in the car and continued on.

             It was an hour before I made it since we had to drive through the center of Ithaca once more to a road I was not familiar with. As I was driving a friend called me asking how he could get involved in the search and so I coordinated with him as I drove. We met up outside a small grocery store near the street I was looking for but I had accidentally typed the destination in my phone as ridge road instead of nut ridge rd, which is where we were supposed to be. And so we started bushwhacking to try and get to the lake when we were much further than we thought. Frustrated and terrified I directed everyone back and we headed further north where I finally found the people I was looking for at the end of Nut Ridge rd. We coordinated transects starting on different streets and I had my crew members take down their numbers in case we needed help since my phone was nearly dead again.

              At long last I was able to start searching the area that I had a gut feeling would be where Chris was. I walked along the dry ground for awhile and attentively checked the docks, screaming his name at the top of my lungs every few minutes. As we walked further we encountered areas where the brush growing along the water's edge became so thick that it inhibiting our view of the shore. Without a second thought I stripped off my socks, replaced my sneakers and walked into the water. It was cold but Chris was well worth the discomfort. I shined my light into the water desperately trying to find a sign of him. The fright was getting to me though since I was not prepared to find him dead. I carried on like this continuing to call his name until I was no longer functional. I screamed and thrashed in agony realizing that Chris was gone forever and there was nothing I could do to bring him back. It was then that one of my friends on shore jumped down socks, boots and all to hug me. I did not know how to react. I was beyond consolation.