By Charlotte Byus
What I am not going to write about is what is going on in this world. I am afraid to, I am not too sure about anything any more. Last week we started home from Marshall. Going to Marshall we used 610 to 59 and up north we went. Coming home we decided to use the slower route, we came down US 59 to US 69. The road is slower but less traveled. There were less large trucks that were running late and needed to be somewhere yesterday. The trees are still green with a few pieces of yellow starting and most of the rolling hills were green too. We had a few stop lights but not many. We had a little construction but not too bad. We enjoyed the sunshine and the time to talk and laugh together.

Then we got to Buna, Lumberton, and Beaumont. The devastation is unbelievable, the family treasures on the side of the road truly want to make you cry. We both became very quiet and just looked. We followed our path on through Beaumont to the Port Arthur exit and turned on FM365. More devastation all the way to Winnie. Every time we leave because of a storm we are out of harms way, but this is our home and our heart goes out to every person with was hit.

RR’s sister lives in Katy and was right in the path of the dam destruction; plus the MUD district sewer system backed up into over 400 homes. Guess what, after having flood insurance for 23 years on this home, flood will not pay for that damage. There is quite a bit they are working with her on, thank goodness.

During this time I have noticed a difference in the way we handle this stress. Most of us women are attached to Grandma quilts and our parents and our wedding pictures, and items that really have little value, except that someone very special who is no longer with us gave the item to us. Men do not understand. But what they do understand is the tools, boats, and equipment they have worked so hard to obtain. We do not, it is just a screw driver?

Well we need to put down that darn phone, FB, other stuff and hear what the other person is saying OR not saying. When we close ourselves off to compassion, hugs, kisses we only go down a road not too good. We are trying to say “well it is just things”. Yes it is, but take the time and morn the loss of these things. I’m not sure which is worse, having a child say, no I don’t want that or having a storm take it away from us before we can give it away.

Now for the funny, my original title for this week’s chat with friends, was the same one that Miss Sand Bucket used last week. Of course I did not know this until I opened the articles this pass Tuesday. I was half way through the article before I opened it. But like Georgia, I just started down another path.

Hugs and Peace to all.

[10-2-2017]