Have you ever thought of how much water/fluid can flow through a 1/4" water line? Valve fully open, unchecked, water pressure here approximately 50 psi. Inside a home, it is enough to wreak havoc.
Let's imagine 1 hour. I tried to find a calculator to determine the volume flow but for this blog, it was too much effort. I will say, whether you have 1/2" of water covering 100 sq ft or 9' covering 1,700 sq ft, it's a nightmare. Tear up flooring, remove X inches high dry wall, drill holes in studs to air out the flooring, turn on multiple fans that simulate a Large military cargo aircraft; you probably have a good visual by now.
I commented to Connye, my wife, that standing water for two days or 1 hour is virtually the same destruction; maybe one more mold here and there but mox nix.
Looking at the aftermath and water reparation demo, I almost cried, hurting for my relatives. YET, if the flow had not been discovered and continued for, say, 5 more hours, their home would be in the same state of destruction as ours, due to Harvey.
Equality. We have our caste system in america but catastrophic events can bring a sense of equality to a family, neighborhood, city or nation, so fast you cannot calculate it. Saint/Sinner, Poor/Wealthy, Ill/Healthy, there are situations that can equalize our standing with Life and each other.
Our community has a social media page for neighborhood communication. I asked the status of my neighbors to get an idea where our home repair was in relation to others in our area. The replies have been encouraging, to me, because I can relate my progress to others and consider we are all moving forward in approximately the same speed for similar reasons.
Visiting neighbors on the sidewalk, or standing against a tree or just talking loud across the street, is a form of venting. Even though we cannot help each other, just knowing that the intent to help is present is also a forma of therapy. Being a Christian or not becomes a mute point, in times like these. We help each other because they are our neighbor; because they need help, as we do and because there is a basic sense of compassion to help that person pull their ox out of the ditch.
In time, all this will be a distant memory (memories) but the pain and grief will surface to remind us how fragile we all are. I recall the proclamations of those with Egos and/or Titles how Perfect they are In All Things and I know that ONE incident can change their magnificent selves into a humble, broken, possibly homeless lowly human. Am I anticipating this horrific change so I can gloat? No.
There is a sadness just thinking what these people are missing as they gaze down on us, from their lofty tower of greatness. A person wrote, "It's better to take a lower position/chair/seat and have others promote you than to proclaim your wonder, before all and someone/something bring you down in front of the crowd.
When we are recovered from this storm and all it contains, I do not want to forget My Need of My Neighbors, Strangers, Family and especially my GOD; His Word, His Spirit, His Love and Mercy and Compassion and Presence in the sound and shape of, "Can I help you? I have some cold water, would you like a drink? We have hot pizza, are you hungry and would you like a sandwich?"
Almost three full months. I may have mentioned that I asked God to help us return to our home in December 2017. It's not a command, or "Your Word Says.....". It's just a humble request to my loving Father to help my family and bring relief to our benefactors that opened their home to us.
One of my neighbors observed behavioral changes in our neighbors and the absence of laughter, friendly wave and it disturbed him that this Storm may have hurt us in a negative way. We both thought about that and decided Only Time and Faith and Healing will reveal how we personally recover.
I worked in UTMD for several years and trauma, whether from certain types of illness, war wounds, death can go deep into your emotions and spirit. I also noticed the Children Patients and their ability to rebound, laugh, encourage themselves and each other. Their Simplicity and Innocence and Trust and Love would continually revive their Joy and Forgiveness and Hope in their Future.
A man once noted to a group of adults, "Unless you become as little children..." Unless you surrender your hardness, bitterness, anger and become innocent, forgiving, loving, tender, merciful, caring, you WILL not survive." The ONLY way we can survive the difficulties and hardness and evil of life is to become as little children; Respect one another, respect and obey righteous laws, confess our sins and forgive ourselves and each other.
Well, I will let you know what the 2nd week of this December has for my wife and I. I pray this Christmas becomes truly a time of Worship, Family get together's, Joy and LOTS of laughter.
FORGET the gifts that drain your bank accounts and overflow your credit cards, just send us and each other LOVE.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Well...Well...Well
November 14. 2017 and we are still living with relatives....as are hundreds, if not thousands, of other people. I could post pictures of our home but they don't tell the Whole Story; that's just damage/destruction.
Over the decades, friends have suggested I think of what others may be experiencing. Hmmmmm, H o w, does one do that....?
UNLESS, one Experiences disaster/trauma/catastrophe! Ummmm, well there is THAT method.
Otherwise, the descriptions and explanations are just words and/or pictures or videos of destruction and people wading through waist deep water. In other words, some occurrences have to be LIVED.
I have wept from frustration, anger, loss of trust and respect. I have watched staff of suppliers (grocery stores, flooring, paint, mechanics) start crying because they could not help with whatever we needed. Short of staff, in the context of a catastrophic event; A business/church/person serviced or served an area for 20-30 years, hundreds or thousands of customers. NOW, a LARGE percentage of those past customers are coming to you for help repairing home, car, church, etc.,
According to the movies, all our problems can be solved in 2hrs or less with 20 commercial breaks. This is America. We have instant everything, 24/7. We have AAA, Insurance of every type, Bank Accounts, pristine lawns and homes in pristine neighborhoods (at least on TV). WAIT! Not everyone has one or any of these. Many did not have Flood (RISING WATER) Insurance or a savings account or bank account equal to the 20%.
Hey, Hurricane Harvey victims, think about a form of counseling for PTSD. If you are not familiar with that term, then Depression or Anxiety or How Do I Recover feelings. Recently, I posted a question on FB in our neighborhood, regarding the status of repairs of my/our neighbors. The replies were informative, refreshing, encouraging, sad and, in some instances, funny.
The point IS, I learned about our neighbors and we had a chance to share, which helped me, if no one else. We were not alone and were about the same phase of recovery? or at least headed in the correct direction. I sympathize with Puerto Rico, Florida, New Jersey/New York (remember Sandy). LONG after the celebrity fund raisers are gone and media has moved on, many of us will still be recovering AND will need an Ear to hear or Shoulder to lean on or just someone to Share with.
I tried to attend Church, this past Sunday, but was at my emotional limit and One question pushed me over into tears that would not stop. For those experiencing any of the above emotions or others, God has not forgotten us (even tho it seems so) but sometimes we NEED something/someone with flesh on it. I went home to bed and slept. Rest is absolutely essential for our emotional and physical health.
I realize that referencing God can seem cliche' or superficial and to some, totally useless. In my life, God has always been an influence and support and guide but has seemed VERY distant and quiet when I need that security the most.
You may have noticed, I am venting and this is my counseling session. Some call it "speaking to the universe" and I am fine with that analogy.
If you have not suffered a traumatic event recently or ever, then my request is for you to just be patient with the rest of us. We have learned or are learning the innocents have nothing to relate to; you just don't get it and that is okay. Until water was flooding our home at a speed too quick to save anything that it reached, I could not sympathize with former flood victims. Nor could I grasp water sitting in our home, our street, knee deep, for days. I can NOW!
Well, well, well. I think I'm done. WOW, I feel better! To everyone (government, civilian) that helped us, my wife and I sincerely thank you.
NOW, is this one of THOSE letters a person writes and destroys??
Ps: This Christmas, we will be back in our home, living and being thankful. At least, that is MY plan:) :) :)
Over the decades, friends have suggested I think of what others may be experiencing. Hmmmmm, H o w, does one do that....?
UNLESS, one Experiences disaster/trauma/catastrophe! Ummmm, well there is THAT method.
Otherwise, the descriptions and explanations are just words and/or pictures or videos of destruction and people wading through waist deep water. In other words, some occurrences have to be LIVED.
I have wept from frustration, anger, loss of trust and respect. I have watched staff of suppliers (grocery stores, flooring, paint, mechanics) start crying because they could not help with whatever we needed. Short of staff, in the context of a catastrophic event; A business/church/person serviced or served an area for 20-30 years, hundreds or thousands of customers. NOW, a LARGE percentage of those past customers are coming to you for help repairing home, car, church, etc.,
According to the movies, all our problems can be solved in 2hrs or less with 20 commercial breaks. This is America. We have instant everything, 24/7. We have AAA, Insurance of every type, Bank Accounts, pristine lawns and homes in pristine neighborhoods (at least on TV). WAIT! Not everyone has one or any of these. Many did not have Flood (RISING WATER) Insurance or a savings account or bank account equal to the 20%.
Hey, Hurricane Harvey victims, think about a form of counseling for PTSD. If you are not familiar with that term, then Depression or Anxiety or How Do I Recover feelings. Recently, I posted a question on FB in our neighborhood, regarding the status of repairs of my/our neighbors. The replies were informative, refreshing, encouraging, sad and, in some instances, funny.
The point IS, I learned about our neighbors and we had a chance to share, which helped me, if no one else. We were not alone and were about the same phase of recovery? or at least headed in the correct direction. I sympathize with Puerto Rico, Florida, New Jersey/New York (remember Sandy). LONG after the celebrity fund raisers are gone and media has moved on, many of us will still be recovering AND will need an Ear to hear or Shoulder to lean on or just someone to Share with.
I tried to attend Church, this past Sunday, but was at my emotional limit and One question pushed me over into tears that would not stop. For those experiencing any of the above emotions or others, God has not forgotten us (even tho it seems so) but sometimes we NEED something/someone with flesh on it. I went home to bed and slept. Rest is absolutely essential for our emotional and physical health.
I realize that referencing God can seem cliche' or superficial and to some, totally useless. In my life, God has always been an influence and support and guide but has seemed VERY distant and quiet when I need that security the most.
You may have noticed, I am venting and this is my counseling session. Some call it "speaking to the universe" and I am fine with that analogy.
If you have not suffered a traumatic event recently or ever, then my request is for you to just be patient with the rest of us. We have learned or are learning the innocents have nothing to relate to; you just don't get it and that is okay. Until water was flooding our home at a speed too quick to save anything that it reached, I could not sympathize with former flood victims. Nor could I grasp water sitting in our home, our street, knee deep, for days. I can NOW!
Well, well, well. I think I'm done. WOW, I feel better! To everyone (government, civilian) that helped us, my wife and I sincerely thank you.
NOW, is this one of THOSE letters a person writes and destroys??
Ps: This Christmas, we will be back in our home, living and being thankful. At least, that is MY plan:) :) :)
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