Uncle Ike - I am suffering - Yeah right!
(This was written on September 15th, a few days after the storm on an old notebook computer powered by a noisy generator.)
Ordinarily, I would be suffering right now. I have no internet access...in fact, I do not have electricity other than what is provided by the generator loaned by my brother who drove it down for me from Ft Worth on Sunday afternoon.
(This is my neighborhood in central Conroe to the right. I looks pretty awful to see 100 year old trees waiting in pieces to be picked up as trash.)
My day - right now - is filled with energy management. I am trying to keep my cell phone charged...my refrigerator running...the freezer running for now eventhough it is beginning to be too much...my semi-retired notebook computer available for writing these posts...and looking for more useful things to do with my time.
My daughter works at Kroger. She and her colleagues are providing basic necessities to the public with a generator that only provides enough energy to provide a little light and cash registers. No fresh food is available in the store. Ice and water are sold immediately by sending someone out to the road with a hand made sign announcing the availability. These remarkable people, most making less than $8 per hour are working in the heat, with the generators keeping a few lights and cash registers running...but no refrigeration. Most have not had any hot food for days. Some lost their entire home in the flooding.
When my daughter told me about the situation, I went to my pantry and freezer to figure out what I could do. With 5 pounds of dry beans, 2 ham slices and 3 pounds of rice - I will be able to give these people something decent for lunch.
There are stories everywhere. Some of them I will share on this blog. 2 of the employees in this one grocery store have lost their homes...but they are working. Now, above all other times, they need the money to survive.
(The photo to the left was taken in Timberidge, just outside of The Woodlands. We lost trees. They lost all their furniture and personal belongings. Most of these people are renters...many without insurance to cover their losses.)
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