Wednesday, September 21, 2005

since the storm

Everyone begins sentences with that phrase here these days....
since the storm,this is what has been happening here....
My mom broke her arm falling over a pile of hurricane debris and has proceeded to break all of our spirits...she is a dear and we love her, but age and infirmity do not make her any less difficult to deal with.She has, how shall I put it? always had rather definite opinions and is truly generous with expressing them, often without waiting for us to ask.Mariah does well with her and has been helping out so much. I am truly leaning on my eldest a lot these days. It is amazing how life turns around.
Caitlin is on the Cross Country Track Team at Murphy. Only 3 freshman make it so it is truly a dig deal.On the morning of her first meet she was nervous. "What if I am last?"she said. I told her if she saw none behind her, just turn around and casually stroll through the woods as though she was not racing that day.It is hard to be inobtrusive arond my mom. As we looked toward the woods, more and more runners came out. My dear mother kept exclaiming LOUDLY, "well, where is that girl? Don't you think you ought to go get her? Did she sit down to rest somewhere?" She wan't last, but definitely in the lead of the back of the pack.She ran so hard, she threw up. A fellow freshman, obviously smitten, was heard to say to his firend,"she  is tough, she ran so hard she puked!" Way to get the guys , Caitlin!
My friends from Mississippi are here for a good while. They will be getting a FEMA trailer, one o f the first availiable since she is a teacher & they are opening school (also in trailers) by November 1st. I am shocked at that since there is not a building standing in her little town. People that live by the water know the chance they take & are philosophical about loss of property when loss of life is such a near thing.It is different here now. I live in a mid-size city that got a lot of damage but suffered no loss of life due to the storm. People are always pretty friendly & this town has not lost a small town feel, but "since the storm" everyone is gentler, more open.The horror stories on the news were real places, family faces. I wnt to the DMV to get my car tag (I only bought the car in April)and it was filled with people who officially don't exist ,having lost all ID.YOU would think it would be a grim place, as it generally is in the best of circumstances. oh, no, folks were laughing, tellling storm stories, joking, hugging....you see long lines of people standing in the grocery stores to cash their Red Cross checks. It is like a party.
I hope the piles of dead trees are gone soon... I hope this gratitude stays in our hearts.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

(((((Marti)))))) Just because I know ya need it about now! And Caitlin........YOU ROCK! lol

Anonymous said...

i love you
slan
frankie

Anonymous said...

It is marvelous that a sense of tragedy shared so often brings out the best in most people, and your entry confirms it.
Relatives .... (sigh).
We hope that you're doing well.
Bon  & Mal

Anonymous said...

Marti you are a bright light..I am happy for those close to you who can bathe in it...this traumatic event has been  truly a never ending saga about the indomitable human spirit.You and your family are in my prayers..cMp

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a smidgin of normalcy is creeping back into your lives. So sorry about your Mom.

Anonymous said...

Dearest Marti,
(((((Marti))))))
I am so very sorrya bout your mother. I hope that her arm heals soon.I am happy that your oldest daughter Mariah helped you so much.Congratualtions with
Caitlin's success on the track team.. amazing...she is fulloof true grit like youare Marti!:):):):)
Thank you so much for the little stories of serendipidity and peace in these times of great sadness.I thought of you and I made up little stories about New Orleans during the storm while youwere gone adn I put the best one inmy blog..
love,natalie

Anonymous said...

     It's good to have you back. I've been thinking about you a lot. I'm really happy to hear that there was no loss of life. Mom's injury is not good, but it is better than having lost her all together.  Tell Caitlin for me that they don't take many freshmen on varsity teams for a reason. She must have done well to be selected. Good luck to her. She can only get better from here. Take care.
Jude
http://journals.aol.com/JMoranCoyle/MyWay

Anonymous said...

Marti
It's so good to have you back.  Sorry about your mom breaking her arm, but I am glad no lives were lost where you hail from.  Each community deals with this catastrophe in different ways.  It's heart warming to hear how your community is gentler and more open.  Give Caitlin a big pat on the back for a job well done.  She still has four years to win a race and I'm sure her day will come.  The spirit she showed in this first race is the spirit of a winner.  Take care and God Bless.
Sam

Anonymous said...

Woo Hoo, Caitlin!  You go, girl!  (Literally!)

That is SO heartwarming to hear about the "gentler" attitude in your town.

Now, we pray for those facing Hurricane Rita.
                                                            Cyndy