Tornado Update... as it relates to Letterboxing

I took a little drive Sunday and the thing that was plain to me is that There is no possibility that all of the boxes in town survived. I made my way to the Stones River Battlefield to check on a few boxes that I have over there. I also planted the Box Of The Month over there as well.I was stopped at the visitors center and told that the 2 mile paved park loop won't be open for another 2 weeks and the trail system won't be open for several months. I searched and searched for a way to get over to the area where Fairy Box #1 and #2/ Fairy Thoughts and Day Dreamer were planted and was stopped by 3 state troopers and 4 Park Rangers before I could even get close. Eventually, I went in through the Greenway. I found a place on the Greenway where I could access the Rail Road tracks and walked them for 2 miles and finally came out about 100 yards from where each box is...or was. Fairy Thoughts FBS#1 was present and accounted for. An easy pick up. After that, I had to wait till it was almost dark as clean up crews are working by electric light and on into the dark. I crept as slowly and as quietly down towards Day Dreamer FBS#2 when it dawned on me that nothing looked familiar. Everything had changed. All of the trees that used to be here were gone and so was the tree FBS#2 was in. I figured it was not worth getting caught so I started making my way back towards the RR tracks when I heard a voice yell at me to bring them a box that was on the ground. I bent down and grabbed the box and took it to the man who proceeded to tell me all of the reasons why I should have on a hard hat. As I was looking down trying to avoid eye contact with the man, I saw a familiar chunk of tree in a burn pile. I walked over to the pile and stuck my hand in the section of tree and there was FBS#2. I tucked her into my shirt and told the man I left my hard by the stump where I had gone to the bathroom. He yelled at me to get it on so I went as if I were going to grab it and kept going. The RR tracks were about 150 yards away, there was no one following me and I had FBS's #1 and #2. Mission accomplished. As I was driving home I went to the back side and played hide and seek with another work crew and about 5 more state troopers, but I was able to get the BOM and it has already been replanted. If you are interested in continuing to collect the BOM please look at the clue, as it has changed. If you are a SRNB hiker, please avoid this park until the first of the summer. It has sustained a lot of damage. There are a couple of boxes that belong to other people that I did not get but if you have a box there and want it rescued I am planning 1 more trip inside the boundries. Let me know and I will look for it.

It Huffed, and It Puffed, and it...

Yesterday, April 10, 2009, started just like any other day. I was going to ride my motorcycle to work that day but it was raining that morning. That was just it. It was merely raining. I went in to work at 5:00 AM and was looking forward to checking out at my usual 1:00 PM and going to the house. There was nothing unusual about the day until about noon. As I always do, I made my rounds before I left to see if anyone needed anything specific before I left and my friend and boss, Gretchen, suggested that I stick around. I went back out into the museum to ascertain what the problem might be. She was being tight lipped about most of it. I made my way out onto the floor and noticed that the staff had corralled most of our visitors and the other staff members into the center point of the museum. I said to myself, "this looks like an emergency lock down." I went to the service desk and noticed the computer was tracking a storm like I had never seen before. From there I made my way upstairs to make sure everyone was down and that no one needed any help. While I was up there I called home and my son, Justin (25), answered. He is Carmen Sanchez to you folks. He was playing stay at home brother that day and Godsbird (Gracy/ 11) was at home with him. They told me they had a pallet made in the closet under the stairs. It was then that I heard the alert sirens over the phone and I knew that this was all too serious. I went back downstairs and told Gretchen that as much as I loved them and enjoyed them, my place was at home with my kids. She knew she would not be able to talk any sense into me nor to stop me from leaving so she just told me to be careful. I left work and drove the 7 miles home, watching people freak out behind the wheel and even witnessed 3 accidents on the way. At one point I passed over an interstate bridge and looked to my right down I-24 underneath me and this is what I saw.


I drove on toward the house, hoping I would make it in time before this monster left a path of destruction that would prevent me ever reaching my house or seeing my kids again. I knew my wife was at work and I knew she would be worried so I called her on the cell phone to check in. As soon as I told her where I was she started screaming at me to pull over and get out of my SUV. I assured her that I was aware of the tornado and that I was watching it out my window.

I made my way on to the house and called her back when I found the kids were OK. Within seconds after I talked to her the second time, this is what went through within 2 miles of where she was.

We stayed where we were for about 20 minutes and the phone rang. 4 little piggies had thought about us in the midst of this desaster and called to check on our safty. There was an immediate lifting of our spirits and a lightening of our hearts knowing that folks cared enough about us to try contacting us. Our house was spared and so, for the most part, was our neighborhood, but the devistation that lay in the wake of this tremendous beast was vurtually brutal.

This picture was taken within a couple of miles of our house.



This one was taken about 3 miles from where my wife was at the time.



This is what it feels like to see this happen to the town you live in.



At the end of it all, 4 tornadoes hit 4 different parts of the county. There were 2 class #2 tornadoes, 1 class #3 and a class#4. 150 homes were destroyed. several hundred more suffered extensive damage, into the millions of dollars. Power was out virtually throughout Rutherford County, and that was the least of it.
A young mother, Kori Bryant (30) was in the process of trying to leave her home during this barrage. Her 9 week old infant daughter, Olivia, was already in her car seat. When it was over they were found by a storm chaser. Kori was in the yard and Olivia was still in her car seat. Kori was dead and all attempts to resuscitate Olivia failed. Kori was a photographer, and had taken photos for Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation on a number of occassions. I had met her several times during photo shoots of the Murfree Springs Wet Land at The Discovery Center.
The last count of injuries were near 50, and the casualties were 2. Rescue workers and authorities are still trying to dig folks out and clean up. The Red Cross has set up relief stations. Blackman High School and New Vision Baptist Church on Thompson Lane has formed hostiles for the homeless. I am certain that my family is fortunate and I thank God almighty for sparing us this desaster. Now, it is time to see what I can do to help others.
This is what I want. Those of you who AQ-mailed friends Smack Dab In The Middle should jump on the band wagon with me. Those of you who made phone calls to check on friends or loved ones, there is room on this band wagon for you as well. It is going to take a long time to clean this up. If you feel a need to help or a desire to contribute The American Red Cross has set up a relief number to call. That number is (615) 893-4272. God bless you all, who called and e-mailed me. Now get involved!