She was fierce.
She was powerful.
I was addicted to the coverage as we sat in our pajamas, all cozy in our home, for two days solid.
We were fine.
My sister and her family were fine (though they lost power).
My Mom was fine (though she lost power).
My husband's family, though (you guessed it) they all lost power - were fine.
But my old home did not fare so well.
I'm not talking about a brick and mortar building.
I'm talking about the place I called home from the time I was nine years old till the time I left for college: Long Beach Island.
LBI has been decimated by Sandy.
Everyone was evacuated, with refugees taken to my old high school on the mainland.
No one has been allowed back since the storm struck nearly a week ago.
Many parts are still under water deep enough to drive a boat in.
Where the water has receded, sand remains. Inches - even feet - deep of sand that was once on the bottom of the ocean, or guarding the houses along the shore.
Gas and oil are mixed with the water in the streets, in people's homes and businesses.
Boats, ripped from their moorings, lie together in piles in the streets, in front yards, on highways.
I am addicted still. No longer to the news coverage, but to Facebook, where old high school - even elementary school - friends that still live in the area keep me updated on what's going on. I feel like a parent whose child is in the hospital, but she can't get there to hold her hand. I know there's not much I could do even if I were there, but it hurts to watch from so far away.
I know everything is being done that can be done to clean up, and get people back home, and open my beloved LBI back up for people to enjoy once again,
but it's going to take a lonnnng time.
If you would like to help, you can donate to the Red Cross, which is helping with the refugees at Southern Regional High School. They are in need of any donated supplies such as diapers, formula, gift cards to WalMart for food and basic supplies. Also, this link will take you to the NJ volunteer organization which is coordinating a lot of the volunteer efforts.
Please keep Long Beach Island, and all its residents, in your hearts and in your prayers.
Images courtesy: msnbc.com, thestate.com, star-telegram.com, lbirecovery.tumblr.com, cnn.com
************
Read it. Like it? Follow it. Please? Thanks.
(Follow my blog by adding yourself as a follower with Google Friends Connect in my sidebar!)
***************************
Don't forget, I will love you forever if you throw me a vote on Top Mommy Blogs. You know the drill by now, don't you? Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop, Natural Living Mamma's Natural Living Mondays, The Chicken Chick's Clever Chicks, A Cat-Like Curiosity's Monday Mantras, Ponder Wonder's Soul Food Monday and @ Home Take 2's Mom's Monday Mingle
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday, Crafty Garden Mama's Tuesday Greens, and The Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny, Tilly's Nest's Down Home, and Crafty Spices Wordless Wednesday
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop, and Two In Diapers' Mommy Brain Mixer
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday, Fresh Eggs Daily's FarmGirl Friday, Little Becky Homecky's Fantabulous Friday, @Home Take 2's Weekend Blog Walk, and Oh So Amelia's Friday Chaos
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop, and Tutus and Tea Parties' Pinteresting Party.
Since today is Saturday, that means I'm linking up my post "Farm Friday: Sandy" with Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop, and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up; and "Egg-Separating Magic Trick" with Tutus and Tea Parties' Pinteresting Party.
Come join the fun!
****************
Rudeness disclaimer:
I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.
When I read the stories and see the photos, I hurt for the people affected and I pray for them. It must be very different when you have a personal connection to the place. When you are able to picture the places and people affected. I continue to pray for them all.
ReplyDeletei just started following your blog i love it but this post really brought home to me because we got about this much devastation with hurricane katrina so my hearts and prayers go out to you and everyone affected by it.
ReplyDeleteI have been glued to the news as well, and pray for all who are displaced and hurt by this terrible disaster. After watching the long healing process after Katrina I know LBI and other areas so battered will take a while to recover as well, but will with all of our help...I am donating, and can't think of a better place to spend any extra I have. Thanks for keeping us updated.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to imagine it's ever going to be normal again. But we saw the devastation after the tsunami in 2004, and the rebuilding afterward. Of course the people who lost loved ones were never "back to normal", but in terms of the cities and homes, there was an outpouring of love and help, and people banded together, and now almost as if it never happened.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all for sympathies and prayers for the people of LBI and all the Jersey shore and lower NY areas affected by Hurricane Sandy. Your concern and your donations are so very much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness Anne, it looks terrible! So so sad! it's good your family is okay though. (hugs)
ReplyDelete