1 post tagged “map”

Like many others, I've spent a lot of my time these past few days reading about James and Kati Kim and their daughters.  For those of you not following, just check out cnet.com.  James is a senior editor at CNET and they are keeping great tabs on everything that's been going on.  For a quick recap, the family never returned from their Thanksgiving vacation.  They were driving up the coast in Oregon.

Yesterday, Kati Kim and her two daughters, ages 4 and 7 months, were found, safe and sound.  James is still missing, having left the car to search for help, but the search team remains optimistic that they will find him alive. 

I am just absolutely amazed at the strength of this family.  They huddled together for warmth for a week, burning tires for heat, and surviving on the meager provisions they had.  Kati breastfed both girls for nutrition, and both are absolutely fine.  According to the news reports, all three are in great shape - Kati may lose a toe from the cold.  If losing a toe is the only thing to happen to these three, that's amazing.  I am just amazed with her strength, to sit for two days and wait for help, wait for her husband to come back, just trying to keep herself and her two little girls alive and calm.  Apparently, she tried to go after James at one point, but realized that she couldn't make it with the two girls.

It's just such a scary thing.  This could happen to anyone.  This is a smart family.  They just ended up lost and stranded, with no way to get in touch with anyone.  I think the lesson here is to always give a copy of your route to a friend or a family member and do your best to stay on that route.  Apparently, they missed a turnoff, found this road on the map, and decided to take it.  So very terrifying.  I think on my next road trip, I will be giving my family a detailed itinerary, and calling when I leave and when I get in.  And I will insist that my friends and family do the same.

Come home soon, James.