MareHare: Storms and Solace

For once, I am speechless. Mark your calendars; it is surely a day for the record books. Let me start by saying thank you God for sparing my family and friends and keeping us all safe during Hurricane Sandy and the subsequent Nor*easter. Yes, some of our family and friends lost all of their belongings and some their homes, but things can be rebuilt and restored to some degree of normalcy; people are irreplaceable. My heart breaks for all those that lost loved ones. You have been in my thoughts and prayers since the storm first hit and the first casualty was reported.

While the world was watching what was going on in Staten Island we, though in the midst of it all, knew virtually nothing. I know how high the water reached some of our south shore communities from our first venture out the day after to check on friends and a relative who live near the shoreline (otherwise known as flood section A). I know how stubborn some people were in not evacuating or being unable to and knew that life and death situations were happening less than a mile away and all around the island. I also knew as the winds bent trees to the ground and snapped 100 year old oaks like twigs that we were in serious trouble when I saw my first big gust attack my neighbor*s tree, while I was washing the dishes and facing the window. The storm left me with an emptiness inside. Our electric went out the night of the storm, along with cellphone reception, internet, and landline telephone service. We also lost part of our roof and a tree in the backyard was damaged. Thank God, we were one of the lucky ones that still had gas and were able to cook on our stove top the slowly defrosting items from the fridge and freezer, so we had food. We also had hot water because of the gas. We lived by candlelight at night and broke out the board games. We went to bed early and woke up early and spent the days with our neighbors standing outside and talking. That is how we got our information, along with my little transistor radio, a relic from my teen years. It was eerie to listen to radio stations that had no information as they too were cut off from news suppliers and operating on generators. It was humbling to live without electric as so many all over the world do. But most of all it was very unsettling to me to know that the adoration chapel was closed for 2 full weeks (you know how I love my adoration chapel) and that evening and early morning masses could not be held because of the darkness. Candles just light so much.

Being a small community though, something beautiful started to happen right after the first storm hit. We started to help each other. Strangers from all over the country came here to help us get back up and operating. Because of that we had our electric back in 5 days, the cellphones in 6 and the internet and telephone in 8. We JUST got gas into our car, which sat idle for a week due to the crisis. What little we had initially though was enough for us to check on the well being of our friends. Unfortunately it was not enough to get us to a gas station. Thanks to the help of one of Tom*s friends we finally got enough in the tank to move the car.

Thank God for the National Guard that has been helping out from before the storm even hit, the Army is here and recently Homeland Security is here as well. The amount of people volunteering at the shelters and helping homeowners clean out, eat, and stay warm is overwhelming. FEMA stopped by our home the other day to check on us, though they deserted us like a sinking ship when the Nor*easter blew into town, they did return. We are not quite sure what the Red Cross is doing, but if cars are swept away those most affected are not going to be visiting them wherever they have set up shop (that applies to FEMA too). People are still suffering. Many are displaced. Many are still without electric and heat not only here but in our neighboring boroughs as well.

As a community, Staten Islanders are healing. We are burying our dead, digging out the homes that can be salvaged, feeding, clothing, and housing those people most severely affected and praying that those still without electric and heat get it back soon. Even though I never take my blessings for granted, these few weeks have taught even me a few lessons about the human spirit. Even though we are the forgotten borough of NYC I am very proud of my fellow Islanders and their response to the needs of their neighbors. Also, I am very thankful to all of the first responders and all those that travelled great distances to help us. On a lighter note, I learned that prayer by candlelight and without the background noises of electric made me feel closer to God. I also learned that I can live without the internet, television and yes, even lights for long periods of time and that I expect going forward I will be paying Con Edison much less in bills from this valuable lesson. I learned once again that my son, Tom, is just an absolutely awesome guy to be with any time - even in crisis mode. Most of all it taught me that the majority of people are good of heart and willing to help others less fortunate.

May God bless Staten Island and the United States of America, for we are truly united.

Mare

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