Now that was a flood. A river with havoc on its mind.
I know, I know, last time I was all about "Hurricane-Ivan-blasted-through-here-like-a-runaway-freight-
train!!!!!!!" But in retrospect, the river was polite in its wandering then. It moseyed out of its banks, sidled over to the where the homes are, flowed into them, stood around for a while, and then walked on back to where it belonged. But this one was worse. It raged through the neighborhood and peoples' homes--took down some garages and lots of mature trees, including almost an entire forest out on the island in the middle of the river. It carved out great big sink holes around the foundations of homes and also randomly created deep pits in open areas. It washed anything and everything that you had outside in your yard away down south, like my rack of firewood--all gone! But on the upside, I was able to claim some logs that ended up in my yard but rightfully resided up-river. Hey, what's fair is fair. And yo, I had no heat until I could get a new furnace installed, so I needed that wood.
So. Just to recap, I was off on a business trip when everyone was evacuated, and that stoked my anxiety. I got a near-constant stream of cell phone calls from various peoples. This did not help.
Jim: "Hey, where are you, you alright? What's this I hear about a dam bursting up north?" Yaaa!...
Katie: "MOM, THE RIVER IS HALF-WAY UP LEE AVE--THAT'S OVER OUR ROOF, RIGHT?" Nooo! This was not accurate as it turns out, but this did not help me maintain my game face for the upcoming advisory board meeting and dinner.
OK, this might sound a bit off, but I'm thinking that had I been here, my constant vigilance would have kept that river at bay. Also, I think that had I decided to bail out on my business trip, the mahoosive flood would have turned to a trickle, but God forbid I should look foolish to my bosses. So, sorry neighbors. . . :-/
Once I got back, the kids and I spent several nights in hotels, without access to an Internet line :-(, and we'd check out every morning, hoping that we'd be allowed back into the neighborhood. Our days were spent in the gym at Junior 3 (a large dilapidated pubic school up on higher ground), where the American Red Cross had set up a shelter for us refugees. The mayor was heckled mercilessly thru 3 daily meetings at 9, 1, and 6, and I wanted to be there for that. Thank God we didn't have to spend the nights, but can I just say RED CROSS, I LOVE YOU ALL!! Food, beverages, and a place to sleep. But maybe most important, a helpful supportive broad shoulder for us all. You guys rock. You get my charity dollars this year. Odd aside--on day 3 when we arrived mid-morning after check-out time I walked in to find 2 upper-level exec's from a former job of mine, both now retired and volunteering with the Red Cross. Wish my clothes weren't so rumpled. . . .
This however did not stop me from shooting a few hoops for a couple of days with 2 of the older kids who were at the shelter full time. 2 on 2, me and the skinny white boy against the tall biracial girl and the rasta guy--oooo! whites against blacks! No idea what the final score was, but I did get a busted lip going after a loose ball--no (big drippy) blood no foul. Best part was the mortification I inflicted on the girls.
This post is getting long, and I have a few more things to tell, so I'll save them for another time. But before I sign off, I want to tell you guys that I'VE SEEN BARBARELLA IN PERSON AND YO HER SILVER DRESS IS SHINY LIKE THAT! Truly a bright spot following some dank times. :-)
Wow, it's a Magnolia-blossom blizzard outside the window right now from .rz's tree. . . Beautiful . . .
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