When the sirens first went off.. I really didn't expect it to be as bad as it was.. These were the same storms coming out of Memphis where all of my friends were ok.. I'm fully expecting them to die down and be just a lot of wind.. Who would have thought that it would knock out power for an entire county. The first night.. we took shelter at my children's grandmother's house.. Mrs. B is the Truth.. Meatloaf, fried corn, greens.. the WORKS!.. Her Leftovers are better than most people's freshly prepared meals. Anyway, we all ended up at her house for the night.. ( weird huh, starting off my marriage at my baby daddy's mom's house.. where they do THAT at?) He wasn't there so it was cool.. My son was however and that was very special to me.. because no knowing where he was with all the turmoil that has happened in the past would have driven me crazy.. Anyway, that night.. They got my Hubby DRUNK as HELL.. it was funny.. and it made the time go by.. I slept for about 13 hours.. Can't remember the last time I did that and I wasn't medicated.. I don't sleep...
The next day we found his mom and we all went there where we had the BEST time.. Food wasn't exactly avaliable.. there was no gas, no ice really.. it was a hard time.. but we went in our freezers and pulled out just about everything... and bbq'ed every bit of it.. Biscuits, chicken , queso dip... you name it .. we bbq'ed it.. We had no choice. Generators were no where to be found and when they did get them.. a $59 generator.. cost up to $1300.00.. REALLY? We ended up going to Tn. to get gas.. If wasn't a LONG LONG ride.. but it gave us a chance to see some of the devastation in Anderson Hills.. I cried at the thought of the families that were affected.. The fence was gone... because there was a brand new cadillac in it.. Our family friends house was destroyed from the inside out.. Roof was blown about 4 miles away.. so they think.. When we got in touch with her .. she was gathering medications and what she could find to wear.. I simply couldn't imagine losing EVERYTHING.. pictures, notes my children wrote me over the years.. I could really care less about the pc and the tvs.. I had MY FAMILY.. and they were safe..
When we got to Tn.. I was reminded that no matter WHAT happens .. we are still BLACK and In the SOUTH. While paying $20.00 for 5 gallons of gas.. a biker with a rebel flag on his helmet made an announcement that this was still THEIR land... White was still RIGHT.. That pissed me off to NO END.. because we are all here suffering through this devastation and he is still talking about freggin RACE.. Those damn tornados didn't give a damn what color you were.. it took out anything in it's path.. The messed up part was.. I would have Helped HIM.. but he would have turned his back on me.. even through THIS.. WOW... some people will just NEVER get it.. Who CARES DUDE?
Anyway, I honestly could have dealt with a few more days of the power out.. I don't remember ever seeing so many kids on bikes... playing Kick ball in the street... hopscotch.. reading.. MY SON wanted a book to read.. Technology has really taken away their childhood.. and we as parents are so busy trying to make them HAPPY that we ourselves forget what it was like to play hide and go seek... or to go up to the school and teach the kids how to play baseball.. The kids weren't so Stressed about how they Looked or what clothes they had on.. They were just HAPPY to be outside. My daughter, 14, asked for a bike for Christmas.. REALLY? She may not say that around Christmas time.. but she is still getting one..
We really enjoyed ourselves... NO gas, cold showers, bbq'ed chicken in Fish grease.. hot beers... it was really good.. It gave my kids a new outlook on life.. and insight on what it is like to be Homeless.. They were raised to always help others and it did my heart good to see them help me pack up food for the Huntsville Utility guys down the street and feed them.. They looked sooo hungry and hot.. it's amazing what a cold bottle of water, light bread and a few pieces of chicken will do for a person..
As for My hubby and I.. we really had a chance to get close to each other in a different way.. We aren't exactly SMALL people.. but to sleep on a FULL bed.. for 5 days.. you learn alot about each other. *hehehe* that's all I'm gonna say about that.. But hell we ARE newlyweds.. That's all I'm saying.. Gotta learn how to keep it quiet.. *_*... I really hated that he had to go back to work today.. I was really enjoying sitting under the tree laying across his lap... or feeding him.. I think we may cut off the power EVERY SUNDAY just to have Family time... no phones, no tvs.. nothing.. We had the BEST time.. taking all the kids down town to the park and feeding the fish..My son really enjoyed it because he couldn't remember the last time he had done that WITH us.. He had gotten TOO old to do certain things.. but it opened all of our eyes to how much we really Love BEING around each other.. Just don't play cards with him or Cookie.. because they were taught by some true OLD SCHOOL card players... Spades in this house.. is a real Deal... hahaha
I hate HATE that people have lost family members, their houses, possessions, food... etc.. That simply breaks my heart.. But I LOVE the fact that SO MANY people Black, white whatever, pulled together to help those in need... My cousin and I gave blood I think Friday .. ( days kinda ran together).. and we are going to Anderson Hills and Harvest this week.. It's time that we all really GET OVER OURSELVES and just be thankful for what we HAVE and who we have.. and help those that are less fortunate..
If you have ever attended or visited HOPEWELL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH in the 90's and hear DONNA HIGH sing this song.. You KNOW WHY .. I'm posting this...
