Perspective: Anniversary

The year started with losses, bravery, and the kindness of our neighbors, firefighters and government, and local businesses.

On July 6^th, as the water was quickly rising, I remember thinking, "if it continues at this rate we are all gone." I thought, "if I make it through, the rest is just stuff."  Then the water went down an inch and the wild currents outdoors subsided. The kind, courageous fire fighters came and rescued us (including my dog) by boat (our “neighborhood cruise”) and everyone made it out safely.

“The stuff” included my daughter’s childhood books, including the books she wrote and illustrated, as well as anything within four feet of the floor. In my family, it became a joke that if you want to clean out your home just have a flood. It was strange what stayed and what got swept away. One car in the lake and all cars in new positions, but my conch shell from a family vacation was still in my garden. 

There were amazing stories, like the double rainbow that showed up soon after the flood. The hotel (Hampton Inn) that took us all in the night of the flood and fed us in the morning; the volunteers that showed up the next day to help us in 90+ temps to pull out what we could from the mud and mess and pack up our belongings; the local government who came to help; our home owner association and especially our president; the Red Cross; the neighbors who came by with water and cleaning supplies; the neighbors and community restaurants who provided food to homeowners, workers, and volunteers at our gazebo. How do you thank all of these people?

In my career as a nurse, I helped people in crisis and it was my turn to accept help. It was hard, but I needed the help and was very grateful.

I always wondered what I would do if I had a near-death experience – would I really have a new lease on life – appreciation for what I have – not sweat the small stuff – - and I did, and I do. I go back to that moment when I said, "if we make it, the rest is just stuff."

Months after the flood, my sister visited and we searched for and found one of my very large planters. It was in the woods and somehow was kept upright and the azalea bush in it had thrived and, once moved back home, bloomed!

For the future I have hopes. 

I hope there is mitigation so University Lake does not overflow again, so we are never faced with such a flashflood again. Then I can continue to live in this house and neighborhood and community that I’ve loved for 33 years. 

I hope houses owed by investors are repaired and sold. Houses need people living in them. We need neighbors to complete our neighborhood – for lights to be on at night, for people to trade plants for their garden, for children to play in the street.  We need people to be offered a fair price for a house, with full knowledge of the possibility of University Lake overflow and resulting flood, and the need for flood insurance. 

All photos by Jodie Weiner.