the following post isn't pretty...
it's dirty.
it's messy.
it's smelly.
it's hard to look at.
it's depressing.
it's overwhelming.
it's loss.
it's deconstruction.
it's overflowing.
it's overwhelming.
it's heart wrenching.
it's vulnerable.
it's scary.
it's homes torn apart.
and now threatened with mold.
it's life as we new it, torn apart.
it's uprooted.
it's strewn about.and it's hard.
very hard. to see. to smell. and deal with.
and it's right down the street.
the waters have receded.
the clean up has begun
the healing has begun.
and the HELP has begun.
the people of Tennessee are pulling together.this group of helpers were relieved and so grateful for the pizza and Gatorade my dear hubby donated today.
one homeowner said it "tasted so good to have something substantial to eat."
lots of hugs were shared.
volunteers are helping out.
after all, we are thevolunteer state.
and we will get through this together.
no matter how hard it is.
and we will get through this together.
no matter how hard it is.and
it
is hard.
i am very grateful for Anderson Cooper of CNN television for visiting River Plantation yesterday and sharing some of this turmoil with the world. I lived in this condo complex for 5 years when my kids were really little and my heart aches for the devastation here......
a foot note...i had very little damage to my own home. We are drying out our crawlspace and will have to tear out the soaked insulation surrounding the ducts, but that is NOTHING compared to the devastation nearby.
i thank you all so much for your kind and supportive comments. Before this storm, I found so much joy visiting pretty little blogs and gardening and decorating and painting in my studio, etc. that all seems so silly to me now.
right now, none of that matters to me.........
right now,
my neighbors matter.
Yep, it's the people that you see everyday that matter the most. They are the ' real ' life we all have. I have prayed for you , it will get better, bless you, Gina
ReplyDeleteGod Bless you all...I wish I could come and help. You are so strong...be careful and stay safe. j
ReplyDeleteErin, another great post. You are right. It's not pretty, but we need to see this. I'm glad you're okay. We helped "muck" houses after Katrina and this is all to familiar. We threw heaps of people's belongings by the curb til the pile was higher than we were just like in your pictures.
ReplyDeleteYou are right - We are a "Volunteer State" and that is what has gotten us thru so many difficult situations.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend and Mother's Day!
Dear Erin
ReplyDeleteYou are so right.. this certainly takes precedence over blogging... sometimes pretty distractions are good.. and sometimes they just can't factor in when real life takes a turn like this...
Something that stood out for me was your neighbours saying 'Pizza' was a substantial meal.. how heartbreaking...
You guys will get through this and become stronger.. Will be thinking of you and all your neighbours and hope the sun shines brightly for you.. Take care xxx Julie
Please know that we are all praying for you and your friends. I'm so glad there your neighborhood has such a great support system going on. Take care of yourself and try to find some time to rest this Mother's day.
ReplyDeletealways,
Bonnie
Thank you, Erin , for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteI had really no idea.... Been going through a hard time here too, but nothing like this. My problems, comparing to this, is silly...
I undurstand blogging doesn´t matter now, I´m glad you posted this. Wereally need to see it.
I´m so sorry for you, wish I could be there to help.
Don´t forget we´re thinking of you.
Take your time to heal. I hope you will be back to normal again.
I can´t even begin to imagine how you and your neighbours feel. This is hard to look at.
Take care, Erin. And try to have some rest between all cleaning up and helping everyone.
Sending hugs and love your way. That´s all I can do!
Luiza
It's all so terrible. But, thankfully, there are neighbors taking care of neighbors and strangers willing to lend a hand and some time. This is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak. Love thy Neighbor as Thyself. Sounds like you're on the right track, Erin. Hugs and prayers!
ReplyDeleteWhen you are in the middle of something like this, it feels as if God isn't listening. But He is. He cares. He loves us. He is always present. What we do not understand at the time can become clear with time.
ReplyDeleteAbout 5 years ago, my sister gave me a book called "Everyday Sacred" by Sue Bender. I treasure this book, not only because it helped my sister to find some peace - but because she gave it to me to help me begin healing from a devastating loss.
This is a quote from the book from Helen - a women who lost everything in the Oakland-Berkley fire in 1991. She said "The fire solved a lot of problems... that may sound strange, but the fire forced us to do things that would have been difficult to do in the future. My husband and I came out stronger, united - a team. I'm immensely grateful for every detail in our lives that gives us pleasure. This is probably the happiest time in our life."
I understood completely. The loss that we (my husband and I) experienced was tremendous. And yet, slowly rebuilding our lives with what mattered most was a gift. Losing everything brought opportunity, love and direction.
Everyday, people are suffering and feeling lost and forgotten. I know this first-hand. When I go to bed at night, I do not pray for myself. I pray for those who suffer.
Sending big hugs your way, Erin. I promise - it will get better.
Dearest Erin~
ReplyDeletePrayers are with all of TN as you all get through this time.
LuLu♥
I passed the blog on to my facebook friends here in the north of england to pray for you that you will all get the help and assistance that you need. You are right about so much of what we look at in blog sites. my nephew asked what was the purpose of all the trivia on facebook? and I answered that he was right, that it was ephemeral musings, and yet most of life is ephemera. so as long as we know that and are aware of it and know the important things when they arrive, I will continue to look for your blog as it lightens my day. Thankyou.!
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrible disaster !! It's all so terrible....God Bless you all...I wish I could come and help..............be STRONG !! and stay safe.......
ReplyDeleteBlessings and hugs from Ria
Oh Erin, what a horrific thing to have to go thru for you all down there...i didn't know about this (i know i have no tv and don't read the newspapers). I hope and pray you get all you need, and you recover quickly, and get back to your lovely normal life and blog. we never realize what we have til it's gone...what a scary experience it must've been being cut off like that. I reada story several years ago from a woman who was on the beaches at a family reunion when a hurricane cut them off...it was so painful to read as she had watched so many of her family members get washed away. all the poor little ones...i hope everyone is ok at least!
ReplyDeleteIt's sooooo different when it's our own place, isn't it?! it's harder! I always say: look on the bright side! at least it was not fire! about 4 years ago severe fires stroke about 50% of portugal and there were people that lost everything! i mean, water is terrible but you are left always with something!; it might be only walls, but fire takes everything! i saw it happening on my grandparents twice as a teen and it became one of my worst nightmares ever since!
ReplyDeletehope you can overcome it and become stronger as a community! may God help you! wish i could help too!
take care!
Rosa
Oh Erin, That brought tears to my eyes. This was a very powerful post-- in photos and words.
ReplyDeleteMy heart is with you all.
jj
Erin- this is so sad. I have had a similar loss
ReplyDeleteand I know it takes a lot of hard work and friends and family and time and more hard work to get through. And I'm sure you and TN will. Hugs.
I didn't get CNN where I was staying and had no idea how bad things were! I am so sorry. My love and prayers are with everyone there. I hope you and your neighbors are doing O.K.! Thank you for sharing and enlightening me. Wishing you much love and light!
ReplyDelete