Sandy Toes Diary

Dear Friends and Family,
Well, I just experienced my first evacuation, and it was a couple of crazy days. It was most stressful on Wednesday when the electronic sign over the bridge and the bull-horned voice from the patrol car announced, "Mandatory evacuation". That really put my stomach in knots. The police said we had to be out by noon on Thursday. Doug climbed around on the roof, dripping with sweat to install hurricane shutters and I packed up files and photos and my computer into the truck. By Wednesday evening we were exhausted and decided to leave in the morning. The two and a half hour drive up 37 to San Antonio was not too bad, just a lot like holiday traffic. We stayed with friends Trisha and John at their San Antonio house, enjoying their pool and watching the news constantly for two days to see where the hurricane was headed. Friday night was our hurricane party, where the game was every time they mentioned Katrina, showed the Houston traffic, or got an opinion from an expert, you had to take a drink. We got pickled pretty fast. By saturday morning we realized that we had dodged the bullet and could head back home, and I took Doug to the airport to fly back to CA, then headed back home to Port A. Upon returning, I drove around our very empty town to see everything boarded up and to check on what was open, then went home to my dark townhouse because all the windows are covered. Thanks to all of you for your concern and prayers. I am tired but very thankful that the storm missed Port Aransas this time. Love to all, Janis

Posted by Janis at 01:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It was a great 18 month adventure, and if you didn't visited us in Port A, you won't now. We have just sold our house and have to out by Oct 20th. Of course if the place gets blown off the map we will be really going out with a bang. I'm afraid this island will look very different when we return on Monday. We have found another house we are making an offer on today in the berbs of Corpus Christi. Let's hope this works out. Whew. We are staying with friends in San Antonio, and when we get this place buttoned up and all our most precious belongings in the truck, we will leave. Probably late tonight. More later.

Posted by Janis at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dear Friends and Family,

In my latest correspondence just before hurricane Katrina hit, I begged you for prayers, sensing, but not fully knowing, the magnitude of the disaster that was about to unfold. I cannot watch TV, or pick up the paper or log on to the Internet, without seeing so many disturbing pictures that make my heart break. New Orleans will never be the same. Thank God to all of you who were willing to stop a moment and pray for others, for the storm did turn slightly to the east, and there have been storm victims who have said, that only through the grace of God they survived the wrath of this storm. Just know that your one little prayer held someone’s head above the floodwaters.

I am overwhelmed with emotions, as I watch the reality of witnessing in my lifetime the worst disaster in our nations history, and subsequently, how people and our country are responding, both the good and bad. Yes, the bad is horror in its purest form, but the good is just as tear jerking. It is easy to say that this is God's judgement, but the Bible also says "judge not, lest you be judged". So I ask you all, if you have any ways or means, to give to the Red Cross at www.redcross.org. I don’t understand fully why I am living here on the gulf coast at this time, and why I am here to have these “once in a lifetime experiences”. Perhaps being on the gulf coast makes me understand more acutely, but whatever the reason, please help these suffering people if you can.

And the hurricane season is not yet over….

Janis

Posted by Janis at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)