Yesterday, Mary, Beth, Nick and I ventured out of the house to walk to a nearby park. Though the grounds were still snow-covered, the jaunt gave us a chance to meet up with this T-rex, which was just the right size for the kids.
Last night, the kids (seven here, two gone) had a chicken-nugget supper, then settled in for a movie. Mary and I enjoyed a relaxing dinner away from home. It was good to have some adult conversation and a delicious meal, which began with a shared “build your own” bruschetta appetizer. The offerings: garlic clove, onions, roasted red peppers, Parmesan cheese, fresh mozzarella cheese blocks, portobella mushroom and two spreads — pesto and red pepper.
Troy called, and he’d been fighting some kind of bug all day. I feel badly he was home sick alone. Then again, being home sick alone is probably better than being home sick with children blasting through the house. He was feeling better by evening. He had the store open yesterday, but little traffic through it. He said people seem unsure of what they’re supposed to be doing with their time right now. Everyone seems to be in limbo. A friend shared later how she’d been bringing food to some friends who are still in the middle of the fight, and described the deep bonding that’s occurring right now as neighbors pour out their love to neighbors in a way that would not likely happen in the everyday world.
Mary left this morning for her church, where she is a pianist. In a bit, we will join her for the second service, to be followed by a pancake brunch. We’re hoping to catch a matinee after that.I will try to catch up on paperwork while I have the brain space and time and await news from home.
Life is nice here, more vacation than escape. I am counting my blessings, this chance to spend time with my friend that I wouldn’t have had otherwise, and for the kids to wait out this communal crisis from a safe vantage point.
I put up a post last night that leads people to a website where they can go to help the flood efforts from afar. I know for a fact it is legitimate. I heard this morning from a reader from NYC, formerly of ND, who has sent in a donation. I am heartened that even from here, I can help in some small way.
Finally, yesterday I had to talk by phone to a customer service representative. When she realized where I was from and that I’d left for safety, the conversation turned from the business at hand into a true heart-to-heart talk about the flood. She had no ND ties but had been keeping watch from her home in Pennsylvania and said she’d been thinking of us all with much concern. By the time we’d hung up, I was touched to tears, again seeing clearly the true goodness of people. Is this, perhaps, why God allows (not causes, in my opinion) these disasters? Is it because He knows that in them, we are going to be able to more clearly see into one another’s souls?
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