Greensburg Rebirth: Day Three and Four

My third day in Greensburg started with what has become my new routine.

1. Get up about 6:00 to 6:15 to try to win a spot in one of the two available showers.
2. Find coffee.
3. Start working by 7:00.
4. Find breakfast.
5. Keep working.

Larry Hatteburg came to speak to us at 10:00. He showed us some of his Hatteburg's People stories to illustrate his favorite techniques.

It was nice of him to come visit us. However, I would REALLY love a lesson from Steve Hartman or Ira Glass. Do you suppose they are available next week?

After another lunch of packaged tuna salad and Triscuits, I set out to find Cretia Barnes. She is an 87-year-old woman who has lived six miles north of Greensburg for more than 60 years.

I would like to think I can follow directions pretty well. However, following directions in the city and following directions in the country are two very different things. It's not as simple as turning left at QuikTrip and right at McDonald's.

In hindsight, Ms. Cretia's directions were clear.

Turn north at the stoplight. Go six miles. Turn left at the white house. Go 1/8th mile. There's her house.

But at the time, I was confused. I couldn't find her house.

I tried several different versions of the directions. Then I tried going farther north than six miles.

Then I couldn't go any farther at all. I was stuck. I believe people call it being "high-centered."





HEAVY SIGH

I really couldn't even believe it at first. I tried driving out a couple of times. I tried forward. I tried backward. Nothing.

I got out of the car and looked at my situation. It was bad. I was miles (seven to be exact) from town. I didn't see any houses. And my car was in the MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.



And? I didn't have my phone list with me. Each of us on this trip have a nice press badge. On the back of that badge is a list of everyone's phone numbers. A list like that would be really handy in an emergency, an emergency like being in the middle of NOWHERE.

And? My cell phone could only muster enough service to send texts, no phone calls.

Nice.

I started to send out cries for help through Twitter using our project's hashtag, #grrebirth. My husband, my hero, picked up my distress signal in Wichita and went into action. He called WSU and got Les's (our instructor) cell number. I texted what I thought was my location.

In the meantime, I remembered I had received a call from another student earlier and found her number in my phone's call list. I kept trying to call her and eventually made contact. Her group also set out to try to find me in the sand under the hot sun.

Help was on the way. I was not going to disappear forever into the Greensburg landscape.

And while I waited, I occupied my time by trying to find anything photogenic. It was pretty desolate. I didn't have much to work with.







Then help arrived and The Big Dig of 2009 was underway.

And I sat in my car like a girl while they were all working HARD to set me free.







A young local farmer happened to drive up onto our scene. He stayed to help. He didn't have a chain, a tow rope or a shovel. But he had a big piece of pipe and giant wrench. Somehow, the rescue squad was able to use those tools to eventually release me from the sand's tight grip.



The farmer also told me where to find Cretia Barnes. Turns out I could have walked there from where I was stuck. To me, it was just a clump of trees. To him, it was the Barnes place. Of course.

When I finally arrived at Ms. Cretia's house two hours late for my interview, she offered me a drink. It was the best 7UP I've ever had in my life. She is a sweetheart of a woman.

And really, it was completely worth the struggle to find her. I think you'll agree.

Her story begins when she is on the phone with her sister.


Today is Day Four.

Short and Sweet: We just got done with a session on podcasting. It was good. I've had too much caffeine today. I'm feeling a little twitchy. I would kill for a grilled cheese and some french fries. Marathana and I will be hitting the road to Wichita in approximately 75 minutes. Can. Not. Wait.