Hurricane Gustav

Are we experiencing more natural disasters or does it feel that way due to hyper media coverage?

Almost three years ago to the day, my brother-in-law and his wife lost their home and their jobs due to Hurricane Katrina. They were in the middle of the New Orleans destruction. They have since relocated but I'm sure they're paying attention to Hurricane Gustav headed for the same region.

Mississippi is also in the path of danger. We have family members there and although they're not on the coast, they could feel the impact. If the Belle were here, she would be fretting.

Florida may not escape. If it's not Gustav, there's another storm gearing up behind it. Remember the year that Florida got hit with three back-to-back hurricanes? My parents and I flew into central Florida for my Uncle Ken's funeral and we were shocked at the destruction we saw from the air.

Deja Vu

It's been just over one week since we returned from Hangdog's funeral in Mississippi. Our pantry was low on essentials and I had many errands to run yesterday. I was also overdue for a manicure.

Every stop I made -- from the nail salon to the dry cleaners -- involved the same question, "How is your father-in-law?" It started giving me a headache to repeatedly explain his death.

It also warmed my heart that so many of these people seem to genuinely care. In the 2 1/2 years that the oldies lived with us, they certainly left an impression with a lot of people.

House of Cards

When I was a child, several of my friends used to play that game where you built a structure out of playing cards. Sometimes the house would get pretty tall but it only takes one slip up for it all to come crumbling down.

The oldies were heartbroken when they had to sell their home in Holly Springs, MS. They understood the logic and they were grateful to us but it was hard. From Indiana, the husband coordinated with various repair people, as well as constant conversations with the Realtor. We (along with his brother and sister-in-law) made numerous trips to Mississippi to pack, clean, haul, etc. (I've told you how much stuff she packed into the dungeon. Imagine 30-plus years of stuff in this house. Now double it.)

Still, I was sympathetic to the loss of their home, their town, their beloved neighbors and friends. One of the gifts I bought for the mother-in-law this Christmas was the book, "Home to Holly Springs" by Jan Karon. She never got to read it.

The reason I'm thinking of this today is we are pushing mid-February. About 8 months ago, the oldies took a trip to visit friends and relatives in Mississippi. They returned and requested a family meeting -- never a good sign. They informed us that they had signed a contract to build a house in a new subdivision in Sumrall, MS. (Very close to Hattiesburg, where she was from.)

The Belle was strong willed but the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The husband went a little crazy. In addition to the financial risks and the lack of a nearby VA facility, his constant argument was this: "It's a house of cards. It's one fall or one car accident or one medical emergency away from complete disaster." Somehow, he managed to convince her that this real estate deal was an extremely bad idea. Somehow, he let her believe it was her decision. Then he got to deal with the builder, more attorneys, etc. and unravel this disastrous deal. Plus, get their money back.

If the deal had proceeded, this is the week the house was supposed to be done.

She did go home to Mississippi. Just not the way she planned.

And Now There is One

We have returned from the trek to Mississippi, the funeral and the whirlwind. Planes, automobiles and wheelchairs! (I will write more about that later.)

Although I hate this expression, it is what it is.

The Captain/Hangdog/the Unabomber is a lost soul. He didn't just lose his wife. He lost it all ... best friend, nurse, protector, soul mate. In his world, he just lost the biggest part of him. He doesn't know how to be a person without her.

He wanted to go first but apparently, God had other plans.