September 14, 2017

Thankful on Thursday-Irma’s Impact

Over the last week everyone in Florida has been under an insane amount of stress. We were scared for our homes, our pets, our friends, and our families. We have prepped and planned and waited for hours to find out when and where the worst of Irma would hit. We are grateful that it wasn’t worse. We are exhausted. We have been without sleep and without power. We have seen the worst of humanity with cruel individuals leaving animals out to die in the storm and people looting businesses and homes, but we have also seen people come to our rescue. We have seen neighborhoods come together to help one another to help humans and animals alike and that has been really refreshing.

Normally, I would post a recipe on Tuesdays, a blog post with another recipe on Thursday, and then my usually Five on Friday post, but needless to say this last week or so has been a little messed up.  Since I do not have wifi, I am using my iPhone as a hotspot just long enough so I can get this message out to everyone. I just need feel the overwhelming need to say I am thankful.

1. I lost my precious kitty, Baby Turbo on Friday before the storm hit. I am thankful that I had his last few days on earth off from work. Yes, I was busy prepping,but we got to play and snuggle a few extra times because I was home. If you have been following me, you know he has been terminally ill for several months. His medicine quit working and his little heart just couldn’t take it any more. 
2. I am thankful for the vets at Specialized Veterinary Services who quickly helped Turbo pass over without having to suffer any more.
3. I am thankful for the generous and kind manager at Panera. I do not know your name, but when you saw that I was crying, you gave Mr. Teacher and I some free scones and that really did help. Losing a pet is hard enough. Losing a pet while prepping for a hurricane is worse!
4. I am so very thankful that the hurricane was not worse. I know many lost everything, but somehow my family and friends made it out with minimal damages. We are all alive and will live to tell the tale of Hurricane Irma. I am grateful that we had time to prepare for the aftermath.
5. I am thankful that Mr. Teacher is brave. He went out into the eye of the hurricane to unplug the drain so our garage and my car would not flood.
6. I am thankful that Verizon is giving us free data for the next few days. It really has been helpful to stay connected and to be able to find numbers for people in need.
7. I am thankful for my family and friends in other states that kept an eye on us and checked in on us to make sure we were all safe. They have also made sure we have had entertainment in the form of phone calls, funny jokes, and constantly playing Words with Friends.
8. I am thankful for our family and friends here who have banded together to help others stay safe and be cared for, like my awesome sister who donated pastries to the first-responders yesterday from her Starbucks. If anyone in Florida can help these people out, please do so!
9. I am thankful for the line-man and workers who have come to restore electricity and to try to reestablish some normalcy in our city again. This week has felt like a month. Also, if you can help these people out, please do so as well! Many people are getting power back, but some will be without it for another week or so. Patience is needed!
10. I am thankful that we have been allowed to have time off of work to re-cooperate and to get our lives back in order. I miss my class and teaching, but this week has worn us all out to the max. I am hoping we won’t be in school until August of 2018 because of all the time we have had away from school. Fingers are crossed! We couldn’t go back to school right now anyway. Our building is flooded and there is no power. I am grateful it isn’t worse. Some schools have much higher water and received damage to their buildings.

I know I am forgetting people and things that have happened over this past week. I am not meaning to do so, but my brain is tired. Next week I am hoping to return to my regular posting and get back on track. Hopefully next week will be better for everyone!