Working through a crisis

With my home in week 9 of "Hurricane relief" status, I am falling apart at the seams!  I feel as if my life is in absolute turmoil because my house is turned upside down.  My husband is on edge, my teenager lives in her own cave, coming out a couple of times a day to throw an insult, searching for food, and start an argument, while I contemplate new ways to make things better......

The BAD news was received two days ago.  Gabby's brother traveled from Florida to Puerto Rico to help Dad.  Although Dad told us the damage wasn't too bad the house only lost the roof and was quite upbeat about recovery, we know now that the house is not salvageable.  The "safe" area where they stored precious sentimental items was also breached by this hurricane and all the interior, walls, cabinets, furniture etc is destroyed and covered by mud with black mold taking over the entire mess!  The two huge trees in the front of the house fell during the storm and have blocked the entrance into the home making it impossible to take anything out of the home.  So it's worse than we thought, and this has taken its toll on Gabby.  We were going to try to get down there in December to help with the rebuilding efforts but we now know that is not going to happen.  Nothing can be done.  

So I sit here singing the blues because every area of my home is taken over by food, boxes and supplies for Puerto Rico, but I know nothing about devastation, and hunger and despair.  I'm ashamed.  

Then I consider OUR story is only ONE story.  There are 3.5 million people who went through one of the worst storms in modern history and they ALL have a story.  Some of the stories end in death, most of the stories include loss of all personal possessions including their home.  The response of my family, friends and even strangers has been incredible and I believe our efforts, however small, will help those in need find some relief.  

And so.....the boxes keep multiplying......

The profound thoughts of a 6 year old

My incredible, gorgeous 6 year old granddaughter asked me a very important question yesterday.  "Nani, are you white?"  Hmm, good question, but I know that I better answer this one with tact and simplicity.   My answer, "I guess so, but I mostly brown/ olive skinned."  Angelina replies; "Well white people used to be mean to black people". Not certain of the origins of her question (was there a discussion on slavery in school or did a classmate bring up the subject)  I decide to tell her the story of her great grandfather (my dad) who was indeed "white" but was so poor that he had to work in the cotton fields when he was her age so that his family could make enough money to eat.   The conversation went on for a bit and we talked about how she should be proud of who she is, the beauty of her caramel skin tone and the diverse cultures she represents.  What a wonderful blessing this child is to me!

Puerto Rico and how it made me write again

Most of my friends and loved ones know I have close family members living in Puerto Rico. The historic event (namely Hurricane Maria) of September 20, 2017 has given me many reasons to write again. The suffering of a child is enough to send me spinning into orbit as these past weeks have done.  I put fingers to touchscreen a couple of weeks ago following a very emotional month that culminated in this somewhat dramatic and emotional post on social media:

 

When I pray for our family in PR I don't pray for a new home for them, I pray for clean water and food. My whole life I have never spent one day without access to food or clean water. I have never ever known hunger. I am ashamed to think that my daughter, grand-baby, and in-laws, are feeling the emptiness of hunger. To have hunger or thirst with no clean water- I simply cannot relate. (Unless you include self-imposed diets, where I know I always have a bag of Doritos just a moment away in the pantry).
We were sitting at our favorite local restaurant on Sunday after church, when my husband received the text from our daughter in San Juan; "on our last can of ravioli". I was ashamed at our abundance of food as we filled our bellies----our daughter was desperately hungry! Let me break it down; ONE can of ravioli. Probably not her or our grand-baby's favorite food, but it was all she could find at a remote gas station one week following Hurricane Irma, (two days before Hurricane Maria). I don't know if she bought 6 or 8 cans of chef-boy-r-dee Ravioli but it was all she had to feed her and her baby for 11 days. Sure she had a few other items, two bottles of Gatorade, some uncooked spaghetti, did I mention they had no electricity? I know they were eating that ravioli straight out of the can and that is disgusting and makes me sick with grief and THAT is survival. 
That evening I stumble upon this gem: Jim Bates on FB: " I live in Puerto Rico. We ARE getting help. From Army, Navy, FEMA, Volunteer Ministers and celebrities. Turn off CNN. They lie." I didn't sleep much that night. I knew the truth FIRST HAND from my daughter. 
What is happening politically? I am not able to speak to that. All I really know is people are out there on that devastated wasteland---an island, with limited ability to communicate, without electricity, without CLEAN water, without food (that means no cable--- how does Jim Bates from FB know what's being said on CNN? He must have an amazing data plan on his phone and live under a cell tower).
There is hope. There are people who have a conscience and see through the rhetoric. They see the millions of American citizens literally deserted on an island. There has been a movement by many people on the mainland to send food and supplies to our fellow citizens. It's hard to imagine that we might be the only real hope they have. I have had no choice but to be involved in these efforts. My family is there and we are willing to give all we have to allow them the basic necessities that I have always taken for granted. So we send boxes, many boxes and then more boxes of food and supplies to get them through and to offer a glimmer of hope, a chance to survive. Praying for clean water and food tonight. My heart is so heavy.

Since this post, my family has received an outpouring of love in the form of food and other provisions that are needed in Puerto Rico.  We have been working to get boxes for food and other supplies out to our family and were excited to find a very willing volunteer in the form of my mother-in-law who has offered to cook and provide meals (with the food we have sent) to those who are in need in the remotest and hardest hit parts of the island!

Juliet with Jessica and Clare from Albania

Juliet misses her friends from Albania. Hopefully we will see them again soon!

Jenna and Chase Prom 2011

Jenna's Second Prom - Walled Lake Northern 2012
Amanda's House before prom

Jenna's Senior Prom - West Bloomfield High 2012

Beautiful Baby Lina

Baby Lina is the most wonderful, energetic and amazing baby!

Our latest project

Thank goodness we aren't moving for a few months.....we have SO much work to do. Hubby is doing lots of the hard stuff. I am replacing light bulbs and adding throw-pillows!

Catching up with old friends is so incredible! I was able to attend a birthday party for the daughter of an old friend. We had a great time and so did the kids. Everyone got to meet Lina and comment on how "big" she is!

There are so many pictures.... she is a fun subject!

The weekend is over and we are back to another busy week!