alive and well...but out of power

It has been quite a while since a post, but with good reason. Houston finally took a direct hit from a hurricane and fortunately it was only a category 2. But that much wind can cause lots of disruption in a city. We left town and decided to brave the storm further inland. According to stories, though, the eye of the storm passed directly over our home. No damage, fortunately, just had to empty the contents of the refrigerators and freezers. As the city is still putting the pieces back together, we are still refugees. Without power, there isn't much for us at home. We are working remotely and making lemonade with the lemons.

As I know everyone like a good picture of the Champ, attached is my most recent favorite. This was taken while we were housing Gustav evacuees, enjoy...

the aftermath

As Hurricane Gustav just recently passed through South Louisiana, I am very grateful that all of our families are safe. I did not experience Gustav intimately, but living through a hurricane is truly memory creating. The weather itself is only one piece of the equation. The rest is much more colorful including extended family all huddled in one home. Everyone gets quality time together but cabin fever does set it. It is especially interesting considering that it is September in south Louisiana and there is no power. My memories from Andrew years ago are fresh in my mind of working for hours to clean up our yard, then each of the grandmothers and neighbors and so forth only to enter a hot, dark house and have a cold shower. Cleaning out the refrigerator and freezer were another unforgotten moment, I can still see these peas that were in the refrigerator going into the large garbage can placed in the middle of the kitchen. It was not a pretty sight or smell.

Through all of this recollecting, I would just like everyone in the path of this storm to know that my thoughts and prayers are still with you all. There is still far to go, but somehow the world seems a little brighter on the other side.

anna