In a
previous entry I wrote about a homework assignment I would like to see handed out in High School.
Of course, no one answer is a "correct one" and a passing grade would be getting actually getting home as quickly as you could.
My thoughts were these:
Tend the immediate - Is the weather such that I need to find shelter ASAP? Is it pouring down rain? Snowing? The wind howling? The sun roasting me alive? Remember you only have pants and a shirt on. Will I need to find water quickly?
If shelter is necessary, focus on finding some as where to go first.
Take stock - What do I have with me? Check all my pockets. Do I have a water bottle and/or driver's license? Both of these signify something. I think seeing I had a water bottle in my hand would make me think, "Ut oh," and finding a driver's license would mean I'm a long way from home.
Get oriented - About what time is it? Which way is "north-ish?" Are there any clues to where I am? Are there any clues to where the nearest town or settlement might be?
Clues might be a sign on the road with distances, mile markers, a newspaper or other printed matter amongst any trash along the road, even a beer can or soda bottle might say where it was from on the label... A bunch of trash from a McDonald's, 7-11 or even Walmart could indicate one of those stores might be nearby. My dad postulated a new theory along the lines of moss growing on the north side of trees; his new theory is that trash piles on the west side of trees (due to prevailing winds). From my limited observations, he may well be right!
Perhaps you see some cars, parked or whizzing by, what state is the most common license plate? Do you recognize the scenery? Is it someplace you've been (at least near) before? Is there a sign down the road that says, "Moose Crossing"? We decided a "Deer Crossing" sign tells us close to nothing! :) Is there a stream nearby? Which way is "downstream"? Would going downstream be better than upstream? Why? We debated this and decided that by and large, on the east coast, downstream would usually be the way to go - but it definitely wasn't anything conclusive.
Taking a deep breath, I would start walking in whatever direction that promised signs of shelter, drink, and/or civilization depending on which was the
most urgent.
My parents and I debated walking up to the first house we saw and asking for help. We decided that we, if possible, would look for a friendly church, public library - or a phonebook listing public services. I'm not sure if you can make a collect call from a phone booth (which have gotten rare in these parts due to the prevalence of cellphones) without any change. I guess we would try it to see if we could make such a call and we would call a relative we could depend on to "make arrangements to save us" before calling a stranger locally to ask for aid (in the form of food and drink, making a phone call, providing on-line access, a ride into town/transportation center or monetary assistance.) We decided that this was not neccessarily the right thing to do but it is a strong "family tendency" to try to do things independently of others (for better or worse).
Sadly, we all agreed that we wouldn't seek out a police officer as a first choice. If push came to shove, of course, we would go that route. The thinking was that if you are in a bad place, you might get picked up for vagrancy long before you get any assistance. I'm not sure this is fair or accurate but that's what we were thinking.
Many libraries nowadays have free Internet service. Internet service means the ability to e-mail someone you know and trust asking for assistance. Or you could go my dad's route...
The 23-digit number my dad rattled off was his credit card number, the expiration date, and the security code. With this - and an Internet connection, he could reserve a plane ticket and also possibly reserve a seat on a "shuttle van" to the nearest airport (depending on where he was). With a driver's license he could pick up his ticket at the departure desk and have ID that permitted him to get on the plane. He could also, in many places, order a pre-paid meal delivered to him on-line! I wrote down the number and asked him to show me his card. He nailed it.
Calling "home" for assistance means determining what sort of aid could be provided. Possibly a wire transfer of money (cash)? Express mailing your wallet (with your credit card(s), driver's license, checkbook?) UPS overnight your cellphone? Think it through, if you are 1,800 miles away, you most likely will be taking the bus, the train, plane, or renting a car. You will need some cash at minimum (for a bus ticket) and a form of ID for the other methods.
If you were close enough to home, my parents and I agreed having someone come get us would be "practical". A true test of "love," huh? How many miles would someone drive in order to come get you? :)
As for me, I've memorized my credit card number, expiration date, and security code. A 23-digit number I hope I never need to use in this manner.
P.s., we noticed to our embarrassment, due in part to cell phones keeping our contact information, we could remember very, very few phone numbers and I couldn't even remember my own.
