It seems like in the aftermath of disastrous events, human nature has a way of being able to focus on the positives. There are miraculous events, inspirational stories, and heroic people that emerge and help give us that extra nudge to move forward, persevere and rise above what can sometimes seem like the impossible. Sometimes the heroic people don't even know they're the ones I'm talking about.
Since we've been in this, our East End home, I've dreamed of the day (it was always Christmas in my mind because I'm a bit of a freak about that holiday - always have been) when we'd have it finished (six years and counting and no end in sight!), each room full of family and friends, cold outside and warm inside, and everyone just being together - being family - related by blood or just friendship. I realize now, that for the weeks immediately following Ike's departure, that dream was a reality. It didn't look exactly the way I thought it would - the propane grill on the front porch with the 4 different types of canned food resting on top wasn't quite the formally dressed dining room table and turkey, the dirty work boots and socks strewn all over the steps didn't exactly give off the aroma of dessert in the oven, and playing the crazy card game Joe brought by flashlight and citronella candles on the floor wasn't really... well, that may have been pretty accurate. But, the important parts were there - family, friends, and us. And our little battered house did a pretty good job of holding us all in.
We have so many people to thank for their help. Miles' mom for taking us and the hounds in when we evacuated, Beck's parents for always making room for us at the table, Mondo's parents for welcoming the Barnum & Bailey Circus of people and pets, the Mondos, Jeff and Klayre, Alicia (world's best information officer!), Teams Prizer and Torgerson (that of course includes Kacie who troopered a very fishy fridge outside that was NOT her own!), Vubang, Newbies, Clyde Wood, the Mo's, Willthing (who gets the award for moving the stinkiest of stinks out of the shop and sending all 3 Culpepper brothers into dry heaves), Stuart, David Gomez (perhaps the most efficient man in the universe with a power washer, next to Joe), and of course the support we got and are still getting from our family and friends out of town...
For me, the hardest thing to describe is how my opinion of family and brotherhood was completely and forever changed the week Mikie's brothers were here. Dave flew up from South Florida to meet with Joe in North Carolina; they had the world's most well-prepared relief truck packed and waiting for the green light to come down and help us out. They had a pretty good idea of what kind of job was ahead of them - an awful one. But there was never any doubt in their minds about coming. Where Mikie and I were unsure and cautious, they were focused and poised.
I've never known what it is like to have siblings like that. I've always envied my friend's relationships with their brothers and wondered what it must be like to share that great friendship that is strengthened by a bond so deep that no fight, no misunderstanding could ever break. Now I know. I know I've had to wait all my life to find out what that felt like because otherwise I may have taken it for granted. I don't think Mikie and I will ever be able to tell our brothers how much they did for us. They'll for sure never know what it has meant to me....
We have an awful lot to be grateful for. And we are. It's good to be home.
Since we've been in this, our East End home, I've dreamed of the day (it was always Christmas in my mind because I'm a bit of a freak about that holiday - always have been) when we'd have it finished (six years and counting and no end in sight!), each room full of family and friends, cold outside and warm inside, and everyone just being together - being family - related by blood or just friendship. I realize now, that for the weeks immediately following Ike's departure, that dream was a reality. It didn't look exactly the way I thought it would - the propane grill on the front porch with the 4 different types of canned food resting on top wasn't quite the formally dressed dining room table and turkey, the dirty work boots and socks strewn all over the steps didn't exactly give off the aroma of dessert in the oven, and playing the crazy card game Joe brought by flashlight and citronella candles on the floor wasn't really... well, that may have been pretty accurate. But, the important parts were there - family, friends, and us. And our little battered house did a pretty good job of holding us all in.
We have so many people to thank for their help. Miles' mom for taking us and the hounds in when we evacuated, Beck's parents for always making room for us at the table, Mondo's parents for welcoming the Barnum & Bailey Circus of people and pets, the Mondos, Jeff and Klayre, Alicia (world's best information officer!), Teams Prizer and Torgerson (that of course includes Kacie who troopered a very fishy fridge outside that was NOT her own!), Vubang, Newbies, Clyde Wood, the Mo's, Willthing (who gets the award for moving the stinkiest of stinks out of the shop and sending all 3 Culpepper brothers into dry heaves), Stuart, David Gomez (perhaps the most efficient man in the universe with a power washer, next to Joe), and of course the support we got and are still getting from our family and friends out of town...
For me, the hardest thing to describe is how my opinion of family and brotherhood was completely and forever changed the week Mikie's brothers were here. Dave flew up from South Florida to meet with Joe in North Carolina; they had the world's most well-prepared relief truck packed and waiting for the green light to come down and help us out. They had a pretty good idea of what kind of job was ahead of them - an awful one. But there was never any doubt in their minds about coming. Where Mikie and I were unsure and cautious, they were focused and poised.
I've never known what it is like to have siblings like that. I've always envied my friend's relationships with their brothers and wondered what it must be like to share that great friendship that is strengthened by a bond so deep that no fight, no misunderstanding could ever break. Now I know. I know I've had to wait all my life to find out what that felt like because otherwise I may have taken it for granted. I don't think Mikie and I will ever be able to tell our brothers how much they did for us. They'll for sure never know what it has meant to me....
We have an awful lot to be grateful for. And we are. It's good to be home.
Great sentiments ... very touching to read. We are so happy to know you guys!