This August, my friend Crystal from Houston came to Chicago for a visit. On a Sunday morning, Crystal poured a glass of tea in the kitchen and said, “I just noticed that you don’t have a garbage disposal or an ice-maker.” She also noticed on arrival that we did not have a television displayed as the beacon of our cozy living area. Unbeknown to any of us, a short time later Hurricane Ike would hit Houston, and I would receive an e-mail from Crystal, stating what her husband and she no longer have.
“Yeah we were hit pretty bad. Millions were without power. We are the 20 percent still without it. Today is 15 days without electricity. We got a generator so that helps some. We can plug in the fridge, TV, but no cable, so DVD-player, and a lamp. It’s as bad as it sounds but what else can we do? Life goes on right? I need a new roof, but thank God for insurance. Planes have flown overhead to do aerial sprays to get the mosquitoes. I have nasty bumps and scabs from so many bites. FEMA is still giving people the necessities they need at this point. Ice is still a precious commodity. It was thrilling the first week to wait every morning for literally 3-hours for gas. Or, 4-hours for a generator. But at least I still own a house and have a job. Not everyone does. I've handled it well but yesterday I finally cried. I just get so angry when I drive into my neighborhood where it’s pitch black and then walk into a dark house that is 85 degrees. We decided to grill outdoors to keep it cooler. Kelly has slept outside in a sleeping bag. I can't change this so I laugh and find humor in my new found wilderness life. I just remember that God says we must have patience in suffering. All will be normal again.”
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Many Still Recovering from Hurricane Ike" »
