Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Catching up ...

I see it's been a year since I wrote in this online journal. My life is so different now without my sweetheart. So much has changed. I'm slowing down. And I have had some real changes other than just Wendell's death. Been trying to get onto some sort of track. But in the past three years I've wandered and not found the path yet. I'm almost to one of those "special" birthdays and if I don't find the trail by October I don't know if I ever will. 

One of the biggest changes recently has been the tornado that has affected so many people here in my new hometown, Winchester, Indiana. I believe about 50 homes were completely demolished and more than 100 others severely damaged. There are lots of homes which are still sitting with tarped roofs and boarded windows. Here at our condo complex two units had to be completely torn down (that's 4 families out of a home) and about a quarter of the others so severely damaged that people couldn't move back in for days or weeks. Lots are like me; windows were boarded and living here but really we're just existing, waiting for the repairs to happen. So many people are in the same boat that a person can't complain; it seems like a hopeless situation some days.  And other days, when you see progress going on just down the street, you feel more hopeful. 

It happened March 14, more than five months ago. About 8 p.m. The sirens warned us and I believe that was why we had no deaths in town. It was a miracle. I left my chair where I was watching the weather radar on TV and went into the guest bathroom, which is in about the center of the condo. I took a throw I had on the chair and covered my head with it and hunkered down between the stool and the tub. Almost immediately it came thru. I don't know how to describe it. The sound. The worse besides the roar was the sound of things hitting the outside and roof. And the sound of breaking glass. Then it was over. Quiet for a few moments. 

Had my cell with me so I called my son Jeff to see if they were ok. They were out of town, near Cambridge City, and he said he would come back and get me. I called Ray and he told me what to gather together and put in the car and lock. No power so I couldn't drive out because of the garage door. (And found out a few minutes later that I couldn't have driven out anyway because there was an electrical line down across the only street of egress from our complex.) 

Besides this computer and paper files, I put Wendell's ashes in the car, too. Ray suggested that. As I went around with a flashlight gathering some clothing and other things, I could see several of the windows were broken on the west side as well as the door to the patio. There was a board laying in front of the bookcase. In the office there were shingles laying on top of the desk and on this computer and the printer and the floor. Lots of shingles and pieces of boards. And it was raining lightly, coming in the broken windows. Two pairs of men came to the front door and almost immediately emergency people started checking every home in my complex. I could see flashing lights and people shouting. Jeff got here in about an hour and he had to walk me out to Greenville Pike because of the downed power line. It was quite a walk for me but the adrenaline kept me going. I could see how badly the condos were damaged. Jeff said, don't worry, you can stay at our house. Well, when we finally made it to their house it was worse than mine. My heart broke for Jane and Jeff! They had worse damage than me.

Bottom line, around midnight we ended up in Richmond at a motel for the night, and ended up staying there for four nights. Jane's mom was taken to the local motel (where she still is BTW). She had just moved into the Lodge at Summer's Pointe two days prior to the tornado! Poor Betty! What a shock for her and just all of us. The next few days were a blur of patching up repairs. I stayed at the motel and then I went to an Airbnb place near Hollandburg OH for a few days until I had the place cleaned up enough to move back in. Had to have power restored, gas meter reinstalled (they had to pull it), and venting for the gas furnace & water heater repaired. My insurance adjust came to see me literally the next morning; he was here when we came back to town from the motel. I was paid within a week! God bless Farm Bureau Insurance! 

Since then I've gotten a new roof, new AC unit, new siding on all sides, new windows and doors, new garage door, new exterior trim, new storm doors, new shutters, painted front door, attic insulation replaced as needed, interior walls and ceilings inspected for moisture, fireplace inspected, crawl space inspected (found a little mold in one small spot and that was remediated). That will make this place look as good as new. They are beginning to rebuild the two units here that were destroyed. 

In town the tornado demolished three churches (including the one I went to), damaged Randolph Nursing & Rehab beyond repair; a strip center near Walmart that had Verizon, a tobacco shop, Japanese restaurant, nail salon was destroyed; the Goodwill store is still a skeleton; another thrift store was damaged beyond repair; part of the Silvertowne foundry was demolished, and Taco Bell leveled. In my complex it badly damaged the Summer's Pointe Lodge, an assisted living place; those folks are still living at various motels and nursing homes in the area. That's enough of that. Boy, that's the first time I've written that in full. 

I still journal (on paper) but have been lax about that since the tornado, too. No words can express how that incident affected me mentally. So, I think I'll just end with some photos.

Debris caught in the fence row near our complex.

The entrance to Walmart on right with debris of the Taco Bell. On left, Silvertowne and at the point, the New Life Church was leveled.

This was the day I got a new roof! Yeah!

Entrance to our complex. The duck pond is full of debris.

All of this looks different now and that is good. Two of the three churches intend to re-build. The nursing home is in limbo. The strip center will not be rebuilt. Goodwill says they will be back. Taco Bell just re-opened last week. The Lodge at Summers Pointe will reopen next month. It's looking up.
God is good!

Friday, July 28, 2023

Wow ... It's been three months !

Didn't realize I'd neglected to write here since April!  Actually, I've not been journaling as frequently either.  Life changes though, doesn't it?  My life is different now and not as interesting to me.  So it probably isn't to you either!  😄  Well, nevertheless I thought I'd drop some photos of things I've seen and done this spring and early summer. 

Just wanted to mention that today I attended the funeral of a church-family member and friend.  She was such a cheerful person and the pastor mentioned that in his wonderful eulogy.  There were lots of folks in attendance!  Wonderful meal following the service, which I helped with in a very small way.  What I will remember about Anna (but we all called her Duck) was her beautiful smile.  Even when she wasn't feeling like it she would give you that smile which, was a real gift you know.  My mother was like that; she had a great smile.  Sometimes I wonder have I earned such a ringing eulogy?  It was an exhausting day.  But how much more so for her family!

My sciatic nerve problem seems to be a thing of the past (thank you God) and I'm still doing those stretching exercises!  Who wants to go through that again!?!  I go for drives and see new country around here and check out any interesting shops I come across (fabric, antique, thrift, etc.).  I've been known to stop for an interesting looking garage sale.  Been crocheting at the Farmland Senior Center on Wednesdays.  Returned to Geri-fit for senior exercise twice a week.  But still I battle the weight.  For a while I did Keto and it worked but when I got down with the nerve pain I quit and guess what? .....  I've always said, when I die the first thing when I get to heaven and they have question and answer time, I'm going to ask God, why did you want me to be fat?  Is it my thorn in the flesh (like Paul)?  Is it a test that You know I'll never pass?  I told my brother Don once, when I die people will say "well you know, she was overweight" and even if I might loose weight some time in the future (LOLOLOL) and am not so heavy when I die, they'll say "well you know, she had been overweight for years".  I know.  You're laughing at me.  Good!!!

Well, here's some pictures of what's up with me:

I've made some more paper beads.  It's fun and really easy.  Made this bracelet for my DIL Jane.  Once I get started on the bead making it's hard to stop.  And now I have all these beads ...

Back to needle punch, too.  This little pouch will make a good gift for someone.

More needle punch waiting to be finished ... (and some beads that need to be put away)

Here's a little tote which I punched the rabbit piece for.  I find these totes and pouches at Hobby Lobby in several colors and I like using them to attach my punched pieces to.

I've been working on this bed runner for about 3 weeks now.  I hope I don't get tired of it before I finish it (I still have that king-size bed [sigh]).  


My sister and I went to Lewisburg and Verona (Ohio) a few weeks ago and my fav place there is the Little Shops in Verona.  She has the neatest stuff her shops, which are behind her home, are amazing to me!!!  I envy her talent to select, collect, arrange and display.  Plus she is a wonderful primitive painter!  She will paint on anything!  And the day we were there the turkey and chickens were out and about.  If you're into primitives, this is the place!
This is the back of her home.  Besides the two small shops near the house, there is a big barn full of primitives.  Every spring she has a plant sale which is a big deal around there.

My sister went home and duplicated this clay pot stacked thingy!  Way to go Teresa!

The Little Shops have three buildings to visit and this is the porch of one.  Her hubby has a furniture shop out back which I have yet to visit ...


When in Lewisburg Teresa and I stopped in a flower shop and for some reason this display of vases in all the colors of the rainbow struck me that day as just beautiful.  The two ladies working there were fun to visit with.  There are several nice shops in Lewisburg and this was one of my favs.

I found Annie Oakley's grave one day when I was out wandering the back roads.  It's on a little highway not too far into Ohio, north of Greenville.  As a matter of fact, this weekend is Annie Oakley Days in Greenville.  That's where Annie was from.


Well, I'll leave you there at Annie's grave.  It's a lovely spot and looked to me like it is well-loved.  God bless you and hope you keep safe and cool this summer!