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I have to start with the requisite Appalachian caveat: We were very lucky.
Our home was spared from falling trees, though homes on our street were destroyed.
Our cars were safe inside a garage, though many of our neighbors werent so fortunate.
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Thirty minutes later, Jordan and the dog arrived at the back door soaking wet.
Jordan is a Gulf Coast native who grew up weathering hurricanes regularly.
He said, Its bad.
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We all know the Mister Rogers quote: Look for the helpers.
We climbed over colossal trees that had fallen, some 20 inches in diameter.
We held hands to avoid the frayed power lines like snakes sunning themselves on every street.
Theyve come along to housing authorities to see who needed what.
As I unloaded, I was stopped dead by our large mixing bowl, still hot to the touch.
We grieve and we celebrate.
We name the ways we were lucky.
ItisThanksgiving, after all.
Helene was a reminder (though we couldve done with a gentler one, sheesh!)
that being alive means surrendering to the whims of the universe.
