Griffin Speaks

CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT

The New Year started out wonderful. We had a wonderful meal enjoyed by family and close friends. It appeared that 2006 would have a perfect beginning. 

I was watching WSFA 12 News when I saw the city of Wetumpka, Alabama bringing in the New Year with a simulation of the mighty blast that occurred about 85 million years ago near the end of the Age of the Dinosaur. Scientists estimate that the energy released by the Wetumpka impact event was more than 175,000 times the energy of the nuclear bomb detonated at Hiroshima, Japan in 1945. Scientists also estimate that the energy released by the impact was the equivalent of about 2.3 billion tons of TNT.

There are approximately 200 craters recognized worldwide. There are only 59 in North America. It was Alabama’s greatest natural disaster. I informed the family that we would have to travel to Wetumpka and view the crater. 

On Monday, January 2, 2006 we loaded up the Navigator and headed to Wetumpka, Alabama. To our surprise we encountered a few people who were totally unaware of the crater. Finally we met a couple of people who were able to give us directions to the main sight of the crater. I followed their directions and I learned how “curiosity killed the cat!” 

We made a left turn at the Smoke and Bones Barbecue. We then proceeded to go up a hill and turn left onto a narrow path almost the width of the navigator. We traveled a fourth of a mile before I realized that it was not a good idea to set out on this journey. I had no choice but to travel to the top of the mountain. I could not turn around before reaching the top. When we arrived at the top the road turned into a dirt road and we almost got stuck in the mud. I was frightened to death, but I could not let my family see my fear.

Greg Jr. got out of the navigator and directed me in backing up. There was no room for error. 

Several things crossed my mind. I decided to call my wealthy friend and ask that he send a helicopter to pick us up. I could not reach him so I assumed that he was still out enjoying the Christmas present that he gave to himself. He purchased a SL 500 $131,000 Mercedes to park next to his new Porsche. When I couldn’t reach him I decided to take the chance and travel back down the steep and treacherous road. We made it! I will never travel that road again. My curiosity almost proved disastrous, but satisfaction brought me back. 

We finally saw the remnants of the six-mile diameter 1000-foot asteroid that hit Wetumpka, Alabama 85 million years ago when we stopped at the Welcome Center. A gentleman there told us that below the center was part of the crater because when it hit it bounced! So all was not lost and the trip ended on a good note. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! 

In the words of my dad, “If you don’t have money at least have class!” 

Greg Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles by visiting his web page at www.greggriffin.com