Oh the thoughts that go through one's mind after a natural disaster...
Blissfully unaware. That's what we were on Easter Weekend. Church, garden, dinner, easter baskets. The weatherman warned us as early as Tuesday that severe weather was coming. We still had absolutely no idea what devastation was about to happen. Even as we went through the motions of moving to our "safe places."
OMG! That was one friend's last post from the TweetDeck. Another posted "Remember...if you end up in Oz, the magic words are, 'There's no place like home...'" Scores, if not hundreds dead. Thousands injured. Billions in damage. These were clearly the words of people *blissfully unaware*
Then it came.
It WILL take a village. I know that's not what Hillary Clinton meant by the phrase, but it's what I'm thinking and what I'm seeing. An outpouring of volunteers. Not just at centers, but everywhere. People who lost a roof helping people who lost a home. Others opening their homes to less fortunate friends and strangers. And electrical outlets. And Internet connections. And showers. One business neighbor filled his chain saw with gas and, on his bicycle since the roads were still impassable, rode into the devastation. It didn't really matter who he helped, they all needed it and appreciated it. Another posted his personal cell number and offered to meet anyone in need at his hardware store. Any time, day or night.
At the bakery we're making bread and pastries for one of the smaller shelters. It seems like such an insignificant contribution. Some will give more, some less. Even the smallest donation is greatly appreciated by someone.
Friends and Family...ET, call home. "Are you OK?" I cannot tell you how many emails and messages I have received over the past two days as news of our disaster travels around the world. As far away as Australia. People I have not spoken with in years. Even my ex-husband. What would we do without the Internet? And smart phones. The simple pleasures of finding gas and a 3G signal made even better with warm wishes from afar. It almost made up for the lack of hot water.
No, we were not forgotten.
Normalcy. That's what one friend called it. A potter, she took solace spending some time in her studio with her hands in clay. Yes, her cars are still totaled. Yes, she still does not have power or a roof. But she can have one small element in her life that resembles normal.
It's also how some folks felt watching the royal wedding today, those lucky enough to have newly-restored power.
Frivolous. And this is how we sometimes feel decorating cakes at the bakery while others are homeless. But it is what we do. And it helps us restore some normalcy to ourselves and to others in this time of chaos. It's still a 6-year-old's birthday, or a couple's long planned wedding.
Thankful. While it is very bad for many, it could have been much worse for most of us.
Our thoughts and prayers are with our familes, friends and neighbors in Tuscaloosa, and all along the path of Wednesday's tornado.
And for those of you who want to help, visit Tuscaloosa Tornado Donations on Facebook.
Comments