Vicki Lane's Blog, page 41

Looking East

 

Just Beginning

 

Jusr Beginning

 

School News

Happy to learn that Madison County schools will re-open next week on Wednesday, though on a two-hour delay for those first three days. I don't think any were damaged, but they are being used as collection sites. etc. I know having schools open will be a help for all and a nice return to normal.

Also it was nice to see pictures of Gov. Cooper on the street in Marshall, talking to folks working on recovery.

Madison Strong!
 

What's in a Name?

     I finished and put in the mail the second batch of a hundred postcards, urging registered moms to vote. These are aimed at women who, though registered, often don't vote. My first batch of cards went mainly to Arizona and the names were, predictably, often Latina.   
The second hundred went to New Jersey and the names were AMAZING! I kinda couldn't wait to turn over the next card on the stack and see who it was I was writing to. It has come to feel quite personal, and I really think about the woman I'm writing to, trying to imagine her life. 
Big love to all of them: Marias, Marys, Maries, and Elizabeths. Susans and Lisas and Jinel, Anubharatha, Jahaira, Yugene, Atusca, Hahnsiany, Judeeanne, Antanisha, Hanania, Saima, Yuderka, Vipreet, Tangela, Hiensook, Hemali, and Nelly--among many others!
Such a beautiful mixed bouquet of Americans! In diversity is our strength.
I just received an email from Moms Rising. There are more than 71,043 postcard volunteers facilitating about 5 million postcards to infrequent voters.
Hoping this helps bring a positive outcome in November!                                                                    

 

First Trip Out

I left the farm yesterday for the first time since the storm and took a few pictures. Not of the major destruction in Marshall--the town is closed except to workers and besides, pictures have been all over the internet. Just some things I saw . . .


Several folks have asked about our camel neighbors. They seem fine.
Aside from evidence of fallen trees, the drive down Anderson Branch was much as always. Until I got closer to the river.                                                                             This house had water up to its roof at the height of the flood. Its residents had the good sense to evacuate.                                                                 
A multitude of smaller outbuilding are gone.


Fallen trees and debris, often hanging from the trees that remain, have turned our once beautiful French Broad into a scene of ugly devastation.

The Barnard Bridge held, despite being hammered with tree trunks and all manner of things, swept along in the flood.

Barnard Park was a put-in for rafting companies and paddlers of all sorts. Now it's closed except for search and rescue (or recover) teams, many from our fine Walnut Volunteer Fire Department. HERE is a good article about the teams.
As I continued on to higher ground and the grocery store, all was pretty normal--except for the many trucks of all sorts hurrying along. Some had piles of supplies; some were official vehicles. Earlier there'd been a military convoy bringing troops and machinery to help in the cleanup effort. 



Our grocery store was well stocked--except for some frozen things and seafood-- and I was able to get everything on my list. Everyone seemed a little nicer than usual--and these are generally nice folks. "You doin' all right?" is a standard greeting, but now it carries extra weight, almost like a hug.                                                                                 

I've photographed this meadow/pasture many times-- two weeks ago it was a great swathe of goldenrod.                                                           
That was then . . .

This is now.


The trees bear strange fruit, high above the usual waterline.
                                        

 So frustrating not to be able to grab a shovel or even pick up trash. But as Bob Dylan once said "Get out of the way if you can't lend a hand . . ."

What I can do is another hundred postcards encouraging women to vote. 

I am sickened by the blatant lies from the Former Guy and his allies concerning the government's response to Helene (and even GOP governors applaud it, not to mention my friends and neighbors who are already being signed up by FEMA to receive aid.)  This election is so important for so many reasons. May truth prevail over fear and the Big Lie. May we all come safely through and build back even better

The Merry Maids

The week would have been Fall Break but it is Hurricane Break instead. I stayed with Meema all day and so did my friends. I was dusting and cleaning when they came (on her own initiative, as god is my witness-V) and they decided to help too.

The spray wax smells like lemons.

We dusted EVERYTHING!

Then we did some drawing and writing and Ilona who is 9 wrote this story. Meema said her writing was very good.

We ran around outside till Meema yelled at us to come back. She said she was worried because we were in the pasture with the cows and the bull who has horns. And she didn't want us to go in the barn. I go in the pasture with the cows down at my house and I told Meema my mama says I can go anywhere I want. Meema got cranky and said Well I'm your grandmother and up here, I say stay away from the bull and don't go in the old barn.
So we played cards. We played Go Fish and yelled a lot. Then we had to clean up our mess. I was very sad when their mom came to take my friends home.



 

A New Day

 

Dichotomy

Peaceful quiet porchFlowers bloom--helicoptersThrob in the distance.




 

Josie's Boring Day

Things are embarrassingly normal here on the mountain. Our cell service was even restored as of Thursday night and John has been able to get gas and groceries.
While hazmat teams are assessing the mud in Marshall (there was a toxic spill at a plastics plant upstream) and relief centers are working overtime and goods are being distributed by 4WD and helicopters and even a mule train, Josie and I are back to the usual routine.  
                                                                                 
A family of four took refuge at Josie's house, and she has had continuous fun with the two girls for six days. When they moved out yesterday to a more spacious, though temporary, apartment, Josie was bereft. A day with Meema was a bit of a bore. But we did the usual things, including making pumpkin bread.

Of course there was reading and she chose this charming book The Little House. KC Larsen sent it to her some time back and this is the first time she's read it on her own. It's the story of a little house in a field of daisies with apple trees all around. And a pond. "It's like my house," Josie exclaimed. It's a lovely little story--thank you, KC!


School is closed. Next week was Fall break anyway and many of the schools are being used as relief centers. Also, there's the question of school busses or parents' vehicles on potentially unsafe roads. At this point, no one's saying when schools might reopen. 



She chose to do some work in a few workbooks we have. I'm not worried about her falling behind academically, but I know she misses the kids and her teachers.

An artist's kneaded eraser makes a good mustache.

It was a good day, all in all, and at its end, Claui and Justin came up to dinner--the first time since the Great Disruption.
 We ate and drank wine and were thankful.