Saturday, September 01, 2012

More After the Storm

“I put the baby under a table, and we tried to go under the bed, but there was water coming up from the floor,” said Ms. Millien, 35. “In past storms we could stand in the corners where the leaks are not too bad to stay dry, but with this storm there were no corners, there was no escape.”
from this New York Times article.

It's been a week since Isaac paid us a visit. I spent most of last Saturday sleeping, since I had spent most of Friday night awake. Our aftermath, as I wrote in an earlier post, involved cleaning up fallen branches and dealing with electrical and internet outages. We still don't have electricity back properly, though it's been on for five minutes here and there. Our neighborhood is full of the sounds of many generators. Anyone who can afford it here owns a generator, since power cuts are so common even when no storm has passed through. Our generator is running now, and it's loud and smelly, and I am so thankful for it.

But I never had to put a baby under a table, and I never had to stand in the corner to stay dry, and although it felt like the windows might blow out, I never thought my roof would blow off. And I don't live in a tent. And I know every single minute that the world isn't fair, and that I am outrageously privileged.

5 comments:

Linda B said...

I have not had your experience, Ruth, but as I have connected with different people through the years, I realize I am blessed, & have so little to whine about. I give what I can, & help where I can, & hope that others do the same. I am glad to hear again that you are okay, & wish you well.

Matsu said...

It's hard to believe that the same storm blew through the middle of the United States and just this week (as recent as yesterday), two weeks after it hit Haiti, it passed on to the East. Lots of damage was done throughout the mid-west. Fortunately, all we got here in Kentucky was lots of rain.

I hope that two weeks after the storm blew through there things have gotten much closer to normal.

Janet said...

More than just about anyone I know, you live in solidarity with those who have less. You may not have had to worry about babies or roofs, but how you choose to live at your level of "privilege" counts for something important. You can't abolish all inequality, but you can make a statement with your life, and you do.

Ruth said...

Thanks, Janet. I think you think way too highly of me, but it means a lot just the same.

T and T Livesay said...

:( I agree with what Janet said about you Ruth. True.