It’s 4 a.m. and I am wide awake. Our Ravenswood neighborhood is silent and dark, except for the streetlight’s sad shine. A curious cat crosses through that soft light outside the window – looking for food? Poor thing. I was hungry, too – and ate a banana.
Usually I am asleep at this hour but this morning I have a lot on my mind. Mostly, how hard this all is and will be. Harder still at age 75+.
We are at just past mid-way in the house recovery. Nineteen days ago, it was sitting in river water. Now, it has been stripped of its contents, dried, the walls have been replaced and mudded, new ideas have been imagined and installed. Our kitchen and living room are now one big room. Our bedroom and dressing room/closet are now one big room.
Next, after the walls are sanded smooth, painting can be done – primer and color. Then new flooring. So, maybe four more days? Five? A week? Two?
Can we really be that close to moving back into our house? Bringing our stuff back in – what’s left of it – likely could take as long as repairing the damage did. There is still a whole lot to go through there. And lots of major purchases to be made.
This journey, this very unique set of events that Mrs. K and I are going through right now, is not only a challenge full of difficulties and expense, not merely a transition to new ways of living in our damaged but soon to be renewed home, not even just a remarkable set of lessons about how generous and kind people can be – it is most of all … at 4 a.m., I cannot think of what that might be.
* * *
Later, at 7:30, after a little more sleep, as I sit on the RV stoop with a cup of coffee and watch the sky brighten. I can think more completely, more positively.
It all boils down to this: I love this house. I love the life Donna and I lived in it. While the old version of that was taken away so completely by the flood, tomorrow could just be better than before.
I can’t remember how many songs and poems and speeches I’ve heard that express that very idea – tomorrow is going to be okay! Right now, Fleetwood Mac is playing in my head:
Don’t stop thinkin’ about tomorrow … Don’t stop – it’ll soon be here … It’ll be here better than before … Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone!
Indeed!
So glad to hear things are looking up for you two and hopefully others affected by the awful flood. Continued thoughts and prayers as the recovery continues.🙏❤️
I sit here reading this with tears racing down my cheeks. I have been somewhat close to where you are right now…a flood changing everything…leaving you with question marks for many months to come. One of the hard parts is after the basic clean up is done, what do you do next? I’m sure it will be different..some things harder and some things easier with two of you to decide instead of just one, but allow your feelings and your mates. They change from time to time. If you get to a point when deciding right now is too much let it be okay. You are loved and I thank God you have loving people to help you.
.but there are some decisions only you two can make. If you need time take it. If you need help, and I can do it I am here. I am sure there are others too. Prayers and ❤️ love follow you as you go towards some new beginnings.
We moved into a home along the White river in 1990, our 1st & to date only house.
Took possession in July 1990, on new years eve in January that year we experienced the flood of 1990 ( 91 rather ? )
It was a hair raising experience to say the least, an indoctrination to river life of sorts, in subsequent decades there were more frequent & more severe flooding events along the river – the product of 50 years of development in the White river watershed & State agencies & local municipalities that actively circumvent the provisions of the 1973 flood control act.
I told my wife after that 1990 flood that if water ever reaches the living space we’d be moving out of harms way.
It did & we are.
Anyone in a similar situation would do well to consider same as the likelihood of another event of this magnitude isn’t remaining level, it’s increasing every year under a variety of factors.
I’m so sorry that you had to go through this. I am taking this opportunity to thank you for all of the early Happy Hour dinner reports you share. You give out all the correct information we readers need. Hopefully your home will be rebuilt better than before.