BLOGAHOMA

Photo of the Big Rock Fire as taken by the Lawton Constitution Newspaper.

How often have heard that question? The most common answers are:  they would grab photos of the family and important papers if forced to run from a burning house and medications. When I had asked myself that question in the past I was sure I wouldn’t grab family pictures even though I love my family. On June 23, 2011 that very situation arose. We were told to evacuate NOW! as ashes fell from the sky on our burning mountain road. This is what I grabbed:

• dogs & dog food
• Cooler with water and soft drinks
• purse with credit cards,
• my ipod with my music
• digital camera
• Flip video camera
• macbook pro (which actually does hold a lot of family photos)
• Cellphone
• change of underwear, shorts and blouse
• pajamas
• tooth brush, tooth paste
• my inhaler and vitamins
• a second pair of flip flops

And I put the dinner dishes in the dishwasher and ran it and the disposal, as if we were going on a weekend get away.

The rest, well I left it all behind: a life time of art, photo albums, antiques, family mementos… left behind. After being away for a day and watching from the distance the with flames shooting up all around the mountain road that we lived on I had a moment to reflect on whether or not  had chosen the “right stuff”.  Well here’s the rub… had I selected the photo of my dad as a bus driver, the Weller vase with sycamore leaves, Michael’s painting of the rocks, the oldest stapler I own, my children’s baby teeth, my baptismal record or that pair of fused glass earrings it would have put me in funk about having to leave the others behind. Had we lost it all (the fire chief said it was touch and go) and I had taken one of those major, meaningful pieces of my life and history I would forever have the other pieces, my mother’s picture at sixteen, the Caddo artist, Silver Moon’s, bison painting, the Neva Clog deco stapler or my first grade report card, my portfolio of character art, popping in and out of my dreams allowing the sadness to creep in every time I looked at the saved piece. So what I took was living things, tech things and mundane useful things. I didn’t even take nice clothing.

Whether our house would burnt to the ground went from not believable to almost certain in a days time as the flames engulfed the mountain. At night I lay awake picturing every nook and cranny of our house and all the treasures and how they were the last time I saw them. So many treasures. And I thought what if it all goes. Would I really want to return to the Park? I needed my neighbors just where they were. How could I stand it losing it all and yet be in the same place. That is how my brain works. I came up with several scenarios of starting over, rebuilding on Big Rock Rd, in Medicine Park but only if my favorite neighbors were still there,  moving to El Reno near where my daughter was relocating, moving back to Norman, OK where we have other special friends.

None of that is necessary now. We are singed and charred but still standing and solid. Thanks to our guardian angels.. the volunteer fire departments of SW Oklahoma. So it’s clean up time.

Next time you are asked the question, maybe the answer, like mine,  will be “to let it all go”.

The  “Big Pasture” Offers to the Homeseeker and Business Man a Golden Opportunity..

So reads the headline of enticement in 1907 to the last land available in Oklahoma, Grandfield.

Looking Out toward the "Big Pasture" from Grandfield

Yesterday we met with the City Manager, Randy Clark to go over the details of a brochure that highlights the history of the area that Michael is putting together for the town. I’m not sure what I was expecting but what we got was a guided tour, blending of history and the present with running dialog as Randy drove us around in the Pick-up. Grandfield is located 15 miles from the Texas line in Southwest Oklahoma. Grandfield is small city that was center of thriving farm activity in its heyday. Today it is still a pretty town in the plains where you can see the Wichita Mountains in distance. I have to admit (despite the little downtown having several vacancies) I really had a good feeling about it. A few of the buildings have been recently restored a sign of a city government that cares. Grandfield has two distinct sides of town, the historic with houses going back to early 1900’s and the “newer” ranch style neighborhood where houses are from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.

I am here to tell you that there is again “Opportunity” in Grandfield. Let’s say for instance you have an in home business and want to locate to a small town and away from the hubbub, you can get a home site for a dollar right near parks and schools, ready to build with utilities in place. That’s right a dollar. And it is still convenient to larger cities like Wichita Falls, TX and Lawton, Ok for big shopping. What if you don’t want to build but want a nice house? Lovely ranch styles between 2000 and 2400 square feet sell between $70,000 and $80,000, half the cost of houses found in neighboring areas. The old houses when they come up for sale much lower. Randy recently auctioned a 1920’s brick bungalow and got $10,000 and it sits on 4 lots!  It was bought by someone in Alaska.

How about opening a grocery store. There is a building that has been completely updated with freezers and coolers and whatever a store needs that is looking for a tenant. Grandfield is willing to let a grocery business move in for FREE! What’s the catch? The town will benefit from the tax revenue. And there are other vacant buildings to consider for a business.

We stopped in at the local From My Heart Bakery/ Restaurant that had just established itself in town. Being that it was midweek they had a pretty good gathering. We went for the garden salad with chicken. Or as Randy said “give me one of those salads and drag it through the garden”. (It was loaded with fresh vegetables). And of course we couldn’t turn down the mile high lemon meringue pie.

So how do you find out more? Call Randy and he can fill you in. Randy Clark is very knowledgeable about real estate, since he was a contractor for years. He received his college education in political science (I believe) at Cameron University so being city manager now fits right in. He is also a successful rancher and that was born in Grandfield and most assuredly believes in Grandfield. Peeked you interest? Call and make an appointment or go and take a look see and don’t forget to stop by for pie! And tell them Muriel from Medicine Park sent you!
Serious Seekers
City Hall
223 S Main Street, Grandfield, OK 73546
(580) 479-5215 email Randy