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Tuesday, February 11, 2020

And Just Like That. . .

It been quite eventful around here for the past week or so.
I will just begin by saying, we are fine.
Actually, that's part of what makes some of this so weird.
We've been so blessed.
We were able to go skiing with 2 of three nieces on one side,
and thrilled that "young people" were willing to spend time
with us "ol' folk" :-)
Follow that high with the news that a friend was informed
that he won't make it to his 30th birthday
due to a horrific medical condition they don't even know how to treat.
Then the surgery date for hubby's sister was upped
so she went through an extensive surgery.
We were just trying to find our bearing from this roller coaster ride
when the river up the mountain began to flood.
That was Thursday and Friday.
The river hit the highest point in recorded history.
Luckily, fortunately, and gratefully, our place suffered little damage
 by comparison to many others. 
(So much debris)
The water that usually flows at around 1500 cfs
broke the 13,000 cfs mark though,
I'm not sure how accurate the reading was since so much water
was flowing out and in all directions.
It literally rerouted itself in multiple places.
Our house stayed dry, our shop had a trace of wet 
over part of the concrete slab, and 
our yard along the bank is about 10' narrower.
The fence behind the garden that separated our place 
from the neighbors is in our yard.
We stayed away Saturday thinking there would be 
many trucks and large equipment on the road and didn't want to impede.
They were still trying to evacuate people by helicopter.
We did go up Sunday to check on the place.
(A neighbor's driveway)
There were several rock slides with a path 
that was just wide enough for the pickup to go through.
I lit a fire in the stove out in the shop to help it finish drying,
but only had what wood I had brought inside the previous trip.
The rest was washed away.
Once the rest of the snow melts, 
we will have to go up with a tractor and chainsaw.
There wasn't much we could do so went down to a neighbor's
and helped shovel 5-6" of mud out of their garage.
(Mud)
They were also thankful that there was no worse damage.
I think there was hope of being able to begin work
 on restoring power yesterday.
The transformer was still under water as of Sunday.
There is no cellular service up there and phones are also out.
Luckily, most folks up there are at least accustomed to power outages,
but the road is completely gone in places so there is no access by vehicle.
They did get through (can't remember which day) via 4-wheelers.

We had taken several gallons of drinking water in case
any neighbors were running low.
Sheriff's office had already done that which was good.  

The area where we now live also flooded.
Our house was safe, but looking out at the field
behind the house looked like a lake instead of the river.
Most smaller bridges in both areas are gone.
And then Monday, we were back to work.
It somehow seems wrong to carry on 
as if nothing unusual has happened.
I know floods and fires and other natural disasters happen all the time.
I've never felt immune to such things.
The part that's bugged me though is
how foreign I felt in a place that's so familiar.
It changed so much.
Then I thought perhaps there is no place 
here on earth that we are supposed to feel at home.
Perhaps that feeling is reserved for Heaven alone.
Perhaps that's the reason.
A reminder that this is all temporary.
And so we carry on . . .
but with an awakened sense of being,
a gratitude for the day, the breath, the chance,
because
just like that
it can be gone.

Keep safe and well dear friends.







25 comments:

  1. Whoa, the photos of the neighbor's driveway and the mud in the basement. True, it could have been much worse. We humans have God-given resilience though as carry on we must. I'm glad your place was not damaged heavily. I'm praying for your friend and trust the Lord will move for him, yet praying he doesn't suffer greatly if it's indeed his time.

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  2. Wow, that is intense. I am glad that you weren't hurt, and that you have a safe home, water, and food. We never know what lies ahead, but you sound like you were prepared. Happiness always follows sadness.

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    1. What a powerful statement ~ thank you for that Stephanie.

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    2. Am so sorry to hear of the family members and pray for their quick recovery for one and good prognosis on the other. Mother nature sure can be quite confrontational and not so pleasant. Hopefully this will be in your rear view mirror real soon.

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    3. I like Stephanie's statement - I too am hoping it's in the rear view.

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  3. Holy. Moly. So glad you are safe. So sorry for all of the messes :-(.

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  4. I am so glad to hear that your property was not destroyed. Sorry to hear about all the angst with your family and friends. That is rough. As you say, be thankful you are well and can be of some help.

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    1. It sure is an eye opener. Also, it just barely got to the garden, still under snow but am hopeful that it's all well.

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  5. Wow! I'm glad that I live on a hilltop. I'll pray that you and your neighbors have a quick recovery from the situation, quick being relevant, of course.

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    1. Thanks Gorges! I think wherever we land in retirement will be "up" a little higher:-)

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  7. Oh my goodness!! I am so sorry you've had to go through all of that! I am so glad you guys are all safe and your home is ok. It truly is a reminder of how temporary everything really is. I will be keeping you all in my prayers including your friend and a quick recovery for your husband's sister!

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  8. Oh my! Bless your heart! I know there are many things to be thankful for, but at the same time there has to be so much heartbreak. I hope, by now, that all of you are well on the road to recovery and that each day is better than the day before.

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    1. So far this week is tiresome but not tragic which is a welcome relief. Thank you.

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  9. I'm so glad you are safe!

    So sorry to hear about your friend.

    Take care Lady Locust. xxx

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    1. Thank you Nil. I know you are familiar with natural disasters too.

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  10. Oh, those pictures are unbelievable! All the rocks and mud. Glad you didn't get a lot of damage to your house and glad you're both safe, but what a mess to clean up. I'm so sorry about your friend. That is very sad. Hope your husband's sister is fine.

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  11. My husband always amazes me. I was telling him about your blog and he said you must be in Oregon. I've never read your profile and for some reason always thought you were around Michigan. By golly, I see he is right and you are in Oregon. Please stay safe. My parents had a lot of flooding this year and it is unnerving.

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  12. How did I miss this post????????????????

    I must check to see, if your feed, is not showing up, in my Blog List. -sigh-

    You posted this on the 11th, and today is the 17th. -sigh-sigh-sigh-sigh-sigh-

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  13. Oh my Dear, what a time you have had!!!!!!! Many, many gentle hugs to you.

    Did not know before, but now know.... You have two places. And this one, is your second home, as it were.

    Best of luck to all!

    More gentle hugs.....

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  14. The power of Mother Nature is something we definitely need to respect. So glad that you're all right.

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