2005-01-08 - 9:31 p.m.
Sad

I keep thinking about Graniteville and what a tiny town it is and how unbelievably crazy things must be down there.

Dad lives in Aiken, where we grew up. In between Aiken and North Augusta are a bunch of tiny towns that all sort of blend into each other, and Graniteville is one of them. When I finally got Dad on the phone and mentioned the intersection where I thought it happened, he corrected me, saying that intersection is in Warrenville. There is also a Howlandville and a Vaucluse and a Burnettown. And Belvedere. And Bath. Each town probably got evacuated. The community college where Mom teaches was closed Friday because no one can get to it for all the road blocks.

I have probably been over the tracks where it happened. That is very strange to think about. Granny, who took care of my brother and me, lived in Graniteville. We slept over at her house sometimes. In fact, that's where I stayed the night my brother was born. Ken even met her back when I was in high school and made him drive us over for a visit. Granny died when I was living in Chicago.

If you want to read more, here and here are probably the best sites. Content at the website of the Aiken Fish Wrap and Puppy Trainer, even about this story, is paid-only, which I find inexcusable.

Dad said that almost everyone found hotel rooms or family to stay with, that only about 150 people needed shelter space. I read an article where one man is staying home with his brother, who has panic attacks and wouldn't leave the house, despite all the warnings.

woogie - woo