At approximately 2 p.m. today, there will be lots of well-wishers standing in a lot off Apache Drive in Stagecoach yelling, "Move that bus!" along with the design team for ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" show - Tanya McQueen, Rib Hills, Eduardo Xol, John Littlefield and team leader Ty Pennington.
There will also be supporters from many other companies and volunteers that came together for the construction of a new home for the Boettcher family, Steve and Mary along with daughter Stephanie and grandson Joshua. Steve and Mary started Soul'd Out Ministries for the teens in the area and have been instrumental in helping them stay off drugs and alcohol as well as offer them hot meals and the hope for a better life.
My daughter, Shannon, and I went out on Sunday to watch the demolition of their former home, a 700-square-foot mobile home and detached garage.
As the big claw of the heavy equipment crashed through the roof of the home and a bulldozer drove through the garage, the recycling bone in my body ached. All that good material could be used somewhere else, couldn't it? Do we really need to add this much more to the landfills? Somehow I don't think the show would achieve the same effect if the homes were demolished piece by piece. Plus, it would take a lot longer than the few minutes it took two pieces of equipment to level approximately 1,400 square feet of usable space. Oh well, I'll get over it.
As we drove out Highway 50 toward Stagecoach, the sun was shining but there was a low level cloud off in the distance stretching as far as we could see from left to right. Wouldn't you know that the site was right smack dab in the middle of the freezing fog? The ground was soaked and so muddy that people were slipping and sliding through the vacant lot set up for spectators.
Most of us weren't dressed for the bitter cold. It was 15 degrees colder at that spot than just a few miles away in the bright sunshine. I had worn a thinner shirt and shoes and within just a few minutes my socks and feet were soaked and going numb, but there was no way I was leaving until they were through bringing the house down.
It proved to be well worth the wait as some of the onlookers started yelling, "Ty, come on over" and "Hey, Design Team!" We were able to watch them film some of the shots where Ty is holding the camera as the house comes crashing down and the team is waving to the Boettchers. If you watch the show, you will know the scene I am talking about.
Ty waved and motioned, "Just a minute" by holding up his index finger. After several takes of the demolition and the team filming their messages to the family, Ty came over to the few who were anxiously waiting. I was able to shake his hand as he made his way along the fence line signing autographs and posing for pictures. He looked at me a little strangely and I realized that I had my hood tied tight around my face along with dark sunglasses on and probably looked very much like a frozen hoodlum ready to mug someone. So much for my fashion statement. And do you know what I said to him? "Good job," was all that came out through the chattering of my teeth. Good thing he wasn't filming me because I'm sure that tape would end up on the editor's floor at the bottom of the trash pile. Did I mention how much cuter he is in person? Or how clear his eyes are? As I snapped a picture of him and Shannon, he joked, "Guess I'll save the presidential handshake for later." Does he know something we don't know?
For those who come out on Friday, they are asking for us to park at the Stagecoach Fire Station located about 14 miles past the Smith's in Dayton. There will be shuttle buses to take everyone back and forth to the sight since there is no available parking on Apache Drive.
-- To reach Gail Davis, e-mail ruhenstrothramblings@yahoo.com or call 265-1947.
