Day 17 The Wrath of #Helene
Good morning--just a few thoughts and musings this morning.
If anyone is wondering, it takes 3 16 oz bottles of water to wash medium, shoulder length hair. I hear the gasps out there, but don't worry, the water was captured in a pan and will be used to flush toilets. Talking about washing hair, have any of you used dry shampoo? That has improved from when we were kids, but is just weird! My baby-fine hair became twice if not three times thicker. Remember the movie/play "Hairspray"? I swear if I teased it, I could get it to look like that. Hmmm...Halloween is coming up. Maybe I just found my costume. I could black out some of my teeth, add a scar or two and call the look Zombiespray!
On this Sunday I would like to ask for thoughts, healing vibes, or prayers for all of us here in Asheville. While our experience after Helene has been mild compared to others and my PTSD spikes from time to time, there are others who have lost so much more.
I am not sure if the story of the Craig family has made it past the local coverage. This tight knit family lives in an area on one of the mountains, in a town named for them, Craigtown. (I have also called Ivanhoe, NC Fislerville, so think small town. My Fisler family will get it.)
The Craig family celebrated a wedding a week prior to Helene. Welcoming a new member to the family and to their mountain community. Then tragedy struck. The rains before and during Helene swept away more than their homes.
The Craig family lost 13 family members. Their parents, who said they wanted to leave this world together, were swept away in the flood waters. Young and old were not spared. To my knowledge all 13 family members have been found. Those left behind are grieving, rebuilding, hugging each other each day. Their burden is heavy, laden with questions and wondering what they could have done differently.
As they clear their town of debris to start over again, they are finding things that remind them of their loved ones--pictures from the wedding they celebrated a week before the storm, completely untouched by water and mud. They have found books, knick- knacks, and other precious trinkets that were cherished by those lost.
While those remaining in Craigtown are strong, putting one heart-heavy foot in front of the other, I think of them almost everyday. I send love and strength to them with tears in my eyes. Damn you Helene.
WLOS, our local TV Station has many stories of loss and strength on their website. While the world and media have moved along to Milton, stories like the Craigs' are still being discovered and shared here.
So, on this Sunday I put the sometimes sarcastic, funny whit aside to honor those who are treading along with the heavy burden of loss and grief. I have no words to lighten their loads, only to say may Asheville surround them with love and support.
Thanks for reading, your comments, and thoughts for those still suffering the wrath of Helene.
#WNCStrong
Governor Roy Cooper
Senator Thom Tillis