Save My Babies!

Remembering a day nearly 15 years ago, (perhaps in December, not sure) when something happened on my bus run that lingers still...There were just about 15-20 kids on my Big Yellow Bus as we went merrily up Watkins Branch, near Grundy, Va.... & as was my custom, I was belting out some songs & since we had seen a giant Frosty the Snowman inflatable, that was my song of choice: Thumpity Thump! Thump!..Thumity Thump! Thump! Look at Frosty Go!...

And then I sang: Going up Cripple Creek! Going in a run! Going up Cripple Creek to have some fun!...

Fun switched to reality in a heartbeat, when we rounded a curve, less than a mile up Watkins Branch, & there was the lady that brought her four-year old daughter down the steep driveway in her car to meet my Big Yellow Bus...

This particular morning, my heart leaped to my throat as I saw Stephanie Baker standing in the creek waving her arms desperately & as I slid back the driver's side glass, I could hear her screaming..."HELP! SAVE MY BABIES!"

Her car had flipped off about a 10 foot retaining wall on its top, into the icy water of Watkins Branch & she was standing in the water, obviously in shock, but unable to reach her baby in the car seat in back...Knowing I was breaking protocol & since radios had not been installed at that time (But were later that year due to this & a similar incident)...So, threatening my kids within an inch of their life, to 'Stay on the Bus', I sent the oldest to 'Call for Help' (No houses in Sight)...

I then left the bus & went to the other side of the bridge & down into the creek, through a briar patch, no rabbit could have gotten through & arrived in the creek bed, ready to lift the car if necessary (At least in my mind)... & all this time, Stephanie was screaming, "Save my Babies!" Save my Babies!'...

Only later did I determine there was just one baby, 6-month old Amber, who was upside down in her car seat & I determined, that if she slipped out of her car seat, she could very possibly drown & the only way I could possibly reach her, was to 'Lie down in the icy water' which I did...

Only then, was I able to see a smiling Amber, looking down at me, like it was a game we were playing...Knowing I had to act quickly, I fumbled with the car seat release, knowing I was just going to have 'One' chance...I had to release the button & catch her when she slipped free, which I was able to do...

NO! I COULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT! AN ANGEL MUST HAVE TAKEN OVER MY BODY!...

(I have never been so scared & cold in my life...It was like two lives were hanging in the balance: Mine and the baby's...After pushing the Release Button, Me & The Angel caught Amber with 'One Hand', but there was another Unseen Hand somewhere...Had to Be!

Quickly, I handed Amber to her Mommy, who was completely overjoyed, but shivering uncontrollably , as was I...

Looking up in the road, I saw 'ALL' of my kids standing in the road looking Big-Eyed and clapping...& I sent one up the hill to get Stephanie's shoes, that she said were on her porch....(Stephanie's had lost her shoes and was barefoot)....

& Suddenly I saw a Rescue Squad vehicle arrive on the scene...What a welcome sight! For Stephanie and Amber needed at the very least: Warm Shelter!...(So thankful that was all they needed!)

Four-year old Sienna went on to school on the bus with me, as I left Stephanie & her precious Amber in the warm & toasty Rescue Squad vehicle....

Sobbing & Crying (Tears of Joy!) I made my way on to Riverview, with no more passengers as the others had long since given up on my coming....

Teeth chattering, almost in shock, Heater & Defroster at Max Hi ...unable to sing, unable to get warm...

For many days! lol....Except In MY HEART!...

As my kids departed the bus, nearly all wanted a hug or a touch & I sensed a new feeling of appreciation...I could only imagine what story they told their teachers and classmates...And parents when they got back home.

(Don't consider myself a hero at all. Just glad God had me there at the exact time help was needed, for if not me...Then Who?)

Remembering Dave Fields by Sam Lewis, President of TECO

REMEMBERING DAVE FIELDS by Sam Lewis, President of TECO:

...........August 24, 1947-September 5, 2001...........

On Sept. 5th, Clintwood Elkhorn suffered a great loss with the passing of Dave Fields, Chief Chemist and Lab Manager. Although Dave is gone, no one who ever met him can say that he is no longer with us. You see, Dave was one of those people who left a lasting impression on everybody he met. Dave was quiet and unassuming, but he was also a genuinely friendly person. I don't think that I ever heard Dave say a bad word about anyone, and I never heard anyone say anything bad about Dave.

If you ever needed to know about Grundy Golden Wave sports, ask Dave. He was an enthusiastic fan of all sports. But as diehard a Grundy fan as he was, he never missed the opportunity to tell one of his fellow employees about the great job their kids did when they played against Grundy.

We loved Dave because he had a wonderful sense of humor. Dave could not only laugh at you but he could laugh at himself. My favorite Dave quote is "Just think what I'd look like without Diet Coke!"...or maybe: "I'm so hungry I could eat the wheels off a Little Debbie truck!" With a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face, Dave could always find humor and pass it along to his friends.

With a Big Heart, a true dedication to his work and coworkers, and an unwavering wish to serve others, Dave set the standard we all hope to someday achieve. Will we miss him? Absolutely!!! Every day of our lives; but we will never forget him...And we will cherish all he has given each of us.

We at Clintwood Elkhorn are very thankful for the time we had with Dave. We wish it had been longer, but none of us know past this day. He made us smile and for that we will always be thankful.

Remembering my Brother: David Earl Fields

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the saddest day of my life to date. On this date 15 years ago, my brother, and everybody's buddy, departed this life. He took with him a huge chunk of his family's heart and soul....Recalling that when I received the news I cried almost Non-Stop for over a week...

I was about five years older than David, but we graduated from the same Harman School, Grundy High School, Hiwassee Junior College, and East Tennessee State University...Seems that what I did, David did. Remembering that when David was about 8 years old he fell off the concrete wall out from our house at Harman. The same wall I had just jumped off.He landed on his head with a thud and his head swelled to a monstrous size. We took him to Dr. Sutherland and with ice and time it returned to it's original shape...
Scary, like the time he was following me off the hill below our house on his sled. David ran into one of the steel supports on the trestle leading from the #1 Harman mine...David only had a broken arm, but what a scare he gave us.
Jumping ahead to the last time I saw my brother alive. He was standing in the rain at the Grundy Fieldhouse, waiting for his daughter Amanda, who was a Grundy Cheerleader, to say good-bye to her friends...We waved & I yelled that I hoped to see him again soon.
Earlier, I had handled the P.A. duties while David ran the Clock for the football game.(Thinking we won, but not sure. It doesn't matter.)
Move ahead a few days to Monday and I received a call that David was missing. That he had not shown up for work at TECO, where David was the Chief Chemist...My heart skipped several beats...Not knowing what else to do, I traveled to Hurley, looking off the road, a sick feeling in my gut like no other I could remember ever having.
David wasn't home. He wasn't at work...So where was he?
When a deputy pulled up to the gate at CCYC a day later, I knew it had to be the absolute awfullest saddest no good news I'd ever heard...
Deputy Randy Ashby was visibly shaken & I could tell he would have rather been anywhere on the planet, than in my living room..
The 'Only' consolation I have is that when I shared the story of my brother before the Grundy Golden Wave football team the following Friday, I asked them to win the game against Powell Valley for my brother. That his time had run out & that the last time I saw him was just outside the glass doors of the Fieldhouse...
Even though we were a 3 touchdown underdog, The Golden Wave prevailed & I felt like my brother was smiling from heaven...Once again I cried, only Tears of Joy...Such an emotional night.
September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. For those that have lost loved ones in this manner, I'm certain the pain never stops....So wish I had been more alert to the signs & could have prevented his passing...Not a day goes by...
Planning to post what the president of TECO. Sam Lewis, wrote in their Journal just as soon as I can type it..