Cretia Barnes working on an afghan for Sarah Yardley, a volunteer from George Washington University who painted Barnes' porch this spring.
Surprise gift in tornado's wake
By Chandra Stauffer
Last Updated: June 21, 2009
The Greensburg tornado took away homes, family treasures and lives.
However, it delivered something, too. It brought friendship to an 87-year-old widow and a college student from George Washington University.
Sarah Yardley and 12 other GWU students spent their spring break volunteering in and around Greensburg. One of their projects was to paint Cretia Barnes' porch.
Yardley's group went to Barnes' home and got ready to start painting. They watched Barnes' dog, Lucky, run around the yard while they waited for her to answer.
"I was closest to the door," said Yardley. "So I told her that we came from Washington, D.C., to help paint her porch, and her face just lit up with a huge smile. She came out onto the porch then and gave me a big hug."
That hug started a new friendship.
After the porch had a new coat of paint, Yardley spent some time inside Barnes' home listening to her recount the night of the tornado and other stories from her life on the farm. She talked about her family, how she was salutatorian for her high school graduating class, and how she's flown in a plane only once.
"They were only here for three hours," said Barnes. "And it just seems like she's a part of me."
As Yardley was leaving, Barnes complimented her on a ring she was wearing. Yardley said after hearing all of her stories and knowing that her life has been far from easy, she wanted Barnes to have the ring.
"At first she protested," Yardley said. "But I insisted. She put it on, made some sort of joke about how even if it didn't fit she would make it, and said, 'I'll treasure this forever.'"
Barnes and Yardley still stay in touch, and Barnes is still wearing the ring.
They have written each other letters, two each so far. Barnes also sent her a doily she crocheted and is now working on an afghan for Yardley, too.
"I don't really know why Cretia and I had such a strong connection," said Yardley. "I think sometimes people just make connections that are sort of unexplainable."
In August, Yardley is driving with her family from Washington, D.C., to Colorado.
"I've made the executive decision that we're going to stop in Greensburg," said Yardley. "Cretia doesn't know it yet, but I plan to spend another afternoon visiting with her."
Listen to Cretia Barnes recount the night of the Greensburg tornado:
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