Rita was rude and Ike was icky!

Today I was thinking about all the stuff I need to get together before Chicago and I was looking at my calendar. The 24th of September is an important date, I just can't figure out why. I looked... no birthdays, no anniversaries. I don't know why but that date is sticking out in my head. Finally I realized, it's the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Rita! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could forget that date. It was huge for me and my family. Then I realized that September 13th will be the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Ike. Wow, I guess I've been pretty busy living in the present since I didn't even realize it. September has been an eventful month for me in the last few years. I'm hoping that Chicago will become a marker of an eventful September memory that's much happier, I'm sure that it will. As I reflect on Rita and Ike, I must say that these events were life changing experiences that I don't think I would undo if I could. They were catalysts for change, they helped me grow and tested my mettle. Actually, it was Hurricane Rita that sealed the deal for me and my husband. He stepped up to the plate and helped me so much, he showed me what kind of man he was and was a huge support to me in a very difficult time.

Right before Rita, was Hurricane Katrina. It was an awful storm, the loss of life was huge and it got so much media attention. Just a month later, when Rita made her appearance and did so much damage, we were left in the shadow of Katrina. I often joked that our part of the state knew what Jan Brady felt like always living in the shadow of "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!"

I can't help but wonder if my weight loss struggle might somehow parallel the storms. So much change, letting go of things from the past, learning what's important and then eventually just moving on with your life, wondering how it is that something that took up so much of your life, could ever be a blip on the screen now? Either way, I know for sure that the human spirit is resilient and that sometimes it really does take life changing experiences to change your life.

I leave you with a few photos...."befores" if you will.

Have a great Wednesday!
Big Hug!
T

Downed power lines in my home town.

3 trees fell on my home during Rita, we also got 18 inches of muddy water in the house.

My 2 sons and I lived in a trailer like this one for 15 months, 2 months we spent with friends and family.

Hurricane Ike brought clear salty water to visit, this is my den with the water mark, we got 37 inches inside for that storm.

The beginning of the clean up, this is my front yard as we hauled soggy things to the curb.



"Flooding is kind of like having a baby, you forget how bad it hurts til it happens again!"