Tennessee Volunteers

Saturday, after we emerged from our basement, I heard what I thought was several car alarms blaring. It turns out, it was the smoke alarms, from a complex just down the road from our culdesac. It was eerie, when I saw this video, because I recognized the sounds exactly as I’d heard them, just a few days earlier.

The next video shows arial footage our neighborhood, and the extent of the damage around us.

We had our home inspected for damages, yesterday. Our roof is in very bad shape. The tornado winds and hail ripped more than just shingles off. There are spots where even the wood underneath was torn from our roof, and is merely covered by a few flapping shingles left behind. Our shed, behind our house, lost a chunk of one side. Our gutters and downspouts are dinged up. Our trampoline enclosure was damaged. There’s a spot on the side of our house where some siding was ripped off. A few of our window screens were torn and pulled apart. Our insurance adjuster will be coming out to assess the damages in the next few days. Then, we’ll begin the process of replacing and repairing our home. While I’m not thrilled about any of this stuff, I’m truly unbothered by it. What haunts me, is just how close we were to losing absolutely everything, or worse, losing someone. It makes me sad every time I leave our house, and have to drive past all of the empty pieces of what was people’s homes just days ago. I’m trying to go on about our “normal” lives, but the reminders of devastation loom heavy, and all around me.

We put together a big box of things to donate. We’re also working on putting together some Christmas presents to give to children who need them. Our community is incredible. People line up to volunteer. Restaurants are serving free meals to anyone in need. Businesses are donating clothes, groceries, toiletries, and money. People are helping one another to gather the leftover belongings, and to clear debris. There is so much hope and love being poured out. I hate that this happened, but also have no doubt that everyone will be taken care of. It’s beautiful, seeing the good that can be found in tragedy. Everywhere I go, people have been more courteous, more kind, than even before. And, this is a pretty friendly place to live already!

I’m making us some chicken for supper, tonight. I’ve been happily cooking and baking, since we were able to “move” back home. The kids decorated sugar cookies, yesterday. I’m going to make some homemade candies, this weekend.

It’s been a heck of a long while now, since I’ve found myself in any kind of trouble with Adam. I’m not going to go looking for that, but I am sure missing the playful banter that we typically share. Hopefully very soon, that too will resume. I haven’t been my silly self, either. I almost feel like I’m missing myself, too.