May 3--Learning to adjust

Last night we were close to electricity…if you are counting “close”. We could see lights about a mile down the road from us. By now we are pretty sure that our electricity at our house is routed through the hardest-hit area, so it may be a while yet. We are patient.

In the “We-should-have-thought-of-this-earlier” category, we have two solar lights at the end of our driveway. They power up during the daylight and stay lit for eight hours at night. Last night we pulled up those lights and brought them inside the house and stuck one in a fruit bowl in the kitchen and another in a container in the sunroom and we had two rooms with light! Unfortunately, we have had showers and rain during the night and off and on all day today, so we probably can’t count on solar power to help us tonight.

Another survival tactic we have worked out is wearing a small flashlight on a chain around our necks. This is handy and helpful when walking into a closet, pantry, or bathroom after dark…or even during the daytime. Perhaps we should write a book…

We are now accustomed to listening to the 8:30 AM “briefing” by the local authorities to start our day. The curfew is still in effect, but hopefully will be lifted in a day or two. Today they reported that at one time Madison County had 450,000 homes and businesses without power, and now there are “only” 98,000 in the dark. Our explosion of tornadoes has now officially made history. Last Wednesday we had more tornadoes in a single day than any other day in history (312 across the south).

Athens Bible School started back today, and many of the other area schools will start tomorrow. The reports I have heard was that it was a successful day, considering everything. They started the day by having the entire student body in the lunchroom for a sausage and biscuit, and giving the children time to re-greet their friends, talk about the storm to each other, and relax. This was followed by the a chapel service for grades K-12 all together. Then the teachers had time in their classrooms, but some of the elementary teachers wisely allowed each student to tell his or her story before trying to attempt academics. Teachers were instructed to be patient, to listen to the children, and to have a homework-free week to help the children get re-adjusted.

We have received many calls and contacts from wonderful people who have volunteered their time, funds, and supplies for the victims. We spent the morning at Norm and Barbara Jo’s house trying to match up offers with those who have needs. At this point the situation is this: Those who lost everything have packed up what they could salvage, and have walked away from their home sites. Those who have had partial losses have their property under tarps and are waiting for the rain to stop. Some are waiting for insurance adjusters to get to them. We have asked for Christians in the area who have needs to respond, and are waiting to see who we hear from. Many families have moved in with friends and relatives who have homes that were not hit, or homes where power has been restored. At this point, most people are in a holding pattern.

We stayed at Barbara Jo and Norm’s house today because Emily is not well. The doctor thinks that the tornado brought in some allergen she is highly allergic to, so she is on medication and trying to ride it out. We stayed with her today while her parents continued with their school and church responsibilities.

Since we were at Barbara Jo and Norm’s house using the internet today, I managed to wash a week’s worth of dirty clothes. We had a warm sandwich for lunch since we were enjoying their electricity. Life is good…and I really mean that.

The rain has brought in a cold front, which presents other problems. It was 83-degrees (outside AND inside our house!) when we went to bed last night. It was 53 when we woke up this morning, and the temperature has been dropping all day. By tomorrow night the low is expected to be 39. If we don’t have power back by then we will be piling the winter blankets back on the bed.

There are no photos today. Everyone is familiar with what a cold, overcast, rainy day looks like.

Did someone say it is the month of May?

Are you sure??