Thursday morning thoughts:
I sit on John’s screened in porch and see the squirrels and birds flitting around in the backyard. As the squirrels relate to the cardinals, I feel like a new person has just been dumped into their environment (meaning myself neither squirrel or bird) as I’m sitting here either nebulizing or coughing.)
So my being has now become part of this South Carolina environment.
What do the squirrels and cardinals and Blue Jays think of this new noise maker? Coughs aren't quite like speech, sort of more like barks that dogs make.
I just talked to my son, Tai in Colorado, and feel he helped me understand that I am dealing with the severity of a disaster by having evacuated to my cousins house.
I have been quite concerned about having intruded into John’s private life being right here in his home. But I needed to be reminded that I am in need and he is providing what I need, air conditioning and flush toilets and electricity so I can use a C-Pap to breathe all night.
If I were to go home to Black Mountain, there might be electricity so I could cook and put things in the refrigerator. The C-pap would work again. I would have air-conditioning but no water. I am not ready to go back where I would have to go get drinking water and somehow some gray water to flush with every single day.
I could bring a carload of supplies to Black Mountain from here in Columbia, South Carolina. But I also would become another needy person in Black Mountain. I think they have enough people who are worse off than I am at this point.
My son Tai mentioned that after this is over, my cousin will be able to feel good about having provided a refuge for me. I had only considered how much I’m intruding on him. And it was very good for me to hear that others do get a benefit from helping other people in need.
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From Thursday on Facebook:
So to report on Saturday’s fun.
I drove first to Tomahawk and took some shots, then went up a side street (Azalea) because a car was on my bumper. It was a street with trees down and I even drove across a wire down at one point, then I finally got back to Lake Tomahawk. It was at normal level full of brown water of course. So the flood damage inside the downstairs of the Senior Center didn’t show.
Sept 28 9:30 am, high water mark in parking lot and the lake is back at normal level.
Then I dropped in on Teressa. That’s because we had no cell service.
I’m glad I did, because they wanted to tell their stories about the tree limb that fell on their roof then blocked their front door. I updated them as to what I heard on the news about Buncombe County having 130 water rescues during the night before. And we looked at my photos. Then Teressa wanted to charge her phone in my car. So we went out there and could talk without her husband always butting in (my experience anyway.) As we sat chatting a man walked by on the sidewalk in front of us, carrying 2 bags of ice. Teresa popped out of the car and asked him where he got it. The little store down the road, he answered.
So we drove down there and she stood in line to pay cash for 2 bags of ice. I took her home and went home myself.
I had one more outing on Saturday, to try to get water for the Blue Ridge Apartment residents...I've talked about it elsewhere.
Sunday morning:
Up around 4:30am because I went to bed at 8…got tired of playing solitaire with real cards by candle light.
As I woke I thought I should just go stay in a motel. But the roads are all blocked by landslides etc…maybe try to get to Russ’ house in Columbus? I later texted Russ, and left a message.
I had figured out how I’d pack, how I’d take the pottery and table out of the car, etc. It’s great to think of things as you wake up. No energy expended.
But now having sat in the car to charge the phone and listen to the miniscule amount of info on news, and checking google maps, I guess I’m ok to be here until things get better. Can I wait a week? No.
Maybe 4-5 days though. So I will act as if that is what is going to happen…and maybe be pleasantly surprised if elec is on sooner, as well as water is supplied.
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I didn't evacuate till Mon. around noon. I donated a box of my Covid pantry food supplies and a half dozen packets of wipes, to the residents sitting around on the porch. My friend Helen came to help me load the car. And next door neighbor Rhonda helped too, so I gave her all my water jugs (2 gallons) and a gallon for grey water as well as a kitty litter bucket for grey water.
After:
Today's quote (which I've not been sharing for a while!)
I see a difference.
ReplyDeleteYou are thankful. You feel like an intruder (I would, too).
Here "we" take in so many illegal people wuo are not really in need and take everything as granted, including women who dare to go out withoutt a man (I am exaggerating a bit, but I was called a "whore" more than once by men from Afghanistan & Co).
Your cousin will fill good he has/had someone over who was/is thankful!
Oh, boy,bears, yes! No German would think of that problem (yet -they come here, too).
And you donated even, this is wonderful.
Our online news are full of what "baby Orange" said, says and blablabla.
Your desaster was but a side-line.
Thank you for sharing, awful as it is, for a German to understand.
We landed in a flooding in Dongara, Western Australia in 1999 and were stuck for three days.
in 2007 Ingo´s apartment flooded for the second time but here in Braunschweig we are quite safe.
Your desaster is but a side-line in the news. I feel sorry, guilty for that, journalism isn´t what it used to be.
I hope you people keep helping each other and you can go home soon and it will not be such a mess as I learned in 2007.
And I hope you find a creative way to thank your cousin.
A framed pic from the one above?
Thanks so much Iris. I started looking at all the new posts on Facebook and fell in that rabbit hole. Most of it is good news, which I pass along on my own FB page, since not everyone reads what I read. I called my apartment manager and she was pretty pessimistic about when water might be restored, though I not only heard the at the town meeting yesterday that it could be as early as next weekend, but it was published in the Valley Echo, a local internet newsletter of human interest stories. At least we of the western North Carolina mountains take care of one another. But I also think most of the people I know anywhere are resilient. We made it through the pandemic with lots of new ideas of how to give education and to work remotely. I do like the idea of the picture of my cousin, but will keep thinking.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI am glad your cousin was able to take you in when you needed a safe place.
The storm photos show the damage, the rivers were so high from all that rain.
People tend to come together and help each when these disasters happen, that is a good thing.
Take care, have a happy weekend.
Thanks Eileen. Yes neighbors with completely opposite politics will jump to help remove a tree or give food or shelter. I'm fortunate that my conversations with John have shown he has much the same views as myself politically, which helped while watching the VP debate.
Delete...Helene will create huge Mount Trashmores! Take care and be well.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's very true Tom. I wonder where the Helene mountains will be formed.
DeletePhew! Those pics and reports. You need to remain where you are and let John be blessed. 😊
ReplyDeleteI have said I might be here another week...to see how he would respond. He said he had enjoyed my company so far. But I did say I'd respect any boundaries that he sets. I can try to get to other friends and relations if need be. How about it AC, do you have a guest room? (Kidding!)
DeleteI just read this and your previous post. Wow, I've never been in a situation like that before. Your cousin should be commended for offering you a safe place to stay. It's a nice feeling that you know that someone is there for you. Lots of people rely on the internet, radio and tv but when you have no power that will become a serious problem. I'm glad that everything is working out for you and soon it will be back to normal hopefully. Take care and I am so glad that you wrote what you did and experienced.
ReplyDeleteGlad that you are in a safe place and also that the water is going down.
ReplyDeleteIt will be one hell of a clearup
I’m sure your cousin was very glad to help. Most of us look at the pictures of the horrific damage and want to help. I sent a donation, but it seems inadequate
ReplyDeleteYour son is very wise. Those who help may even benefit more than those helped. Thanks for sharing with us. Our hearts are with you! Aloha dear
ReplyDeleteYou being safe helps all the rescuers and people trying to provide services!
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing your cousin is doing.
ReplyDelete