Transcript
A (0:16)
Hey, everyone.
B (0:16)
Welcome back to National Park After Dark. We have our trail tales again for you all today and we're so excited.
A (0:22)
Yeah. My name is Danielle. Happy to be here.
B (0:24)
I'm Cassie, also happy to be be part of this. Thank you for having me.
A (0:30)
You're welcome. Thanks so much for joining. And then we have a little special guest today. This is Noah, everyone say hi. Braxton, zoom in on his face, please.
B (0:41)
Yes. If you're watching on, if you're listening and you can't see, Danielle has the cutest chihuahua ever on her lap.
A (0:47)
Yeah, I'm fostering. So if by this episode, by the time it comes around, if you still see him on my personal Instagram, I'm still trying to find him a home. So he's up for grabs to a very loving, sweet home. And he's. He's pretty perfect for a Chihuahua. Who would have thought the day would come that I would have a small dog on my lap before you do?
B (1:09)
I know. It hurts my soul. I just watch you the whole time. We're recording now and just wish I was where you are.
A (1:17)
Yeah, well, yeah. Trail tales today. Let's do it. Who wants to go first?
B (1:24)
I'll go first.
A (1:25)
Okay.
B (1:26)
Mine is titled Route 66 and the Giant astronaut. And I have to say that ass is ass and astronaut in all capital letters for context.
A (1:39)
Oh, I thought you were telling us how ass is spelled. Like that is generally how it goes. You're like, I have to say ass is spelled a sronaut.
B (1:49)
I've always known how ass is spelled because it's in my name.
A (1:52)
Oh, yeah, there you go.
B (1:56)
There it is. Hello, Cassie and Danielle. First off, thanks for this lovely podcast and all the stories you've shared. I've listened to you guys for many hours while in the car doing dishes or going for long runs. You have found a wonderful balance of sharing meaningful and timely stories that educate and inspire while also providing episodes with more light hearted entertainment. I know we are all more educated and interesting people for listening to you guys. Thank you. I just listened to the Route 66 episode and I knew I had to write in. As an Oklahoma girl who never lived near anything national park related, I didn't know if I would ever have a personal connection to the podcast beyond enjoyment and appreciation. But alas, my time has come and I have my own trail tale to share. It involves small town drama, my own engagement, and one very large and perky astronaut butt. But first, some background. In your Route 66 episode, Danielle, you ended by describing the grants and work that Is going on along Route 66 in celebration of the 100th anniversary. Well, that is very much true across the state of Oklahoma, and especially in my hometown of weatherford, which sits along Route 66. In summer's past, there would sometimes be visitors and even tour buses passing through Weatherford as they made their way along the mother road. The communities along Route 66 only expect this tourism to increase greatly this spring and summer, as anticipated for the 100th birthday of the highway will inspire vacationers to take road trips and see what there is to see there. Because of this, the state offered some grants to the towns along Route 66 that could apply for and potentially use to beautify and invest their communities. Ahead of this intent, Centennial Weatherford applied and received one of those grants, which they chose to rebrand the town as space city. Since the town's most famous resident was Thomas p. Strafford, an astronaut who flew space missions for NASA in 1960s and 70s, everyone in town was fairly excited about the investment into the community. Until one morning when the demolition of apparently a beloved gazebo took place in the town square at the center of main street. I'm talking excavators, jackhammers, and nothing left. Demolition. Now, I had spent my whole life in that town and I had never really heard anyone talk about the gazebo or express any great pride in the structure. But boy howdy, what an uproar there was on facebook and in the local newspaper. Apparently when the gazebo was built long ago, it was a community effort and many families donated money to pitch in with the construction. Community members got it in their heads that the city council tried to go behind their backs and have the place destroyed and they would not stand for it. Especially when it was announced that a 30 foot spaceman statue would take the place of their quaint gazebo. Oh no, that is much different.
