Jessica Naudziunas , Weekend Edition

Merri Edwards sent me this email tonight:

I've heard from a lot of people who heard the NPR interview and the response has been positive. My almost 3-year-old granddaughter heard it in Chico, California, and said, very excitedly, "That's Danny! (her version of Granny)."

A friend who stayed on the island during the storm (his wife, Beth, was with us in the hotel), was able to drive to our house today and said that structurally it is sound, but it looks like it had water in it. He was not able to go inside, but said that it looked like there had been 2 - 3 feet of water outside. We have a step-down living room - it's about 6 inches lower than the surrounding floor, so I'm pretty sure that it will be full of water.

We also heard from a man who called Galveston's emergency management center and was told that the Mayor, etc., were considering letting residents come back onto the island in 3 - 4 days in order to look at their property, but that they probably wouldn't be allowed to stay. Then, later in their press conference, the same people said that we wouldn't be allowed back next week but perhaps the following. So we still don't know anything.

On the positive side we are starting to receive via email aerial shots of the city and I can see that as of yesterday water was not standing in the streets of Colony Park, where we live. Sadly, I learned that one of the townhouses that burned belonged to my pastor and his wife, and another belonged to another friend from the same congregation.

I'm finding that it's easier if I don't look at the photos for very long. They are overwhelming and remind me more and more of the photos after the 1900 storm. I start thinking about what we've lost and realize that "I can't go there" or "I'll be desolate." You asked earlier what I regret losing the most and I said "books" and I think I'd have to amend that to include art and craft supplies, which also include books. BUT, if the house is sound, if the roof hasn't leaked, if if if if a lot of other things, most of our books are okay as of now and most of my art supplies and fabric are, too, and the hundreds of photos on our walls and in boxes that I somehow thought to put on top of my desk will be okay. Of course, that's if the mold doesn't set in. It seems that Gulf coast mold and mildew can - and does - grow on anything."

10:55 - September 15, 2008

What is this?

Share