UPDATE - We are gathering supplies/donations to get to the Rockaways (this is the town in Queens that more than 100 homes have been lost from the fire & more due to flooding). Temps are dropping & there are still so many without power. There is a gentleman in Cornwall that has family in the Rockaways & they are in desperate need. There are several families from Cornwall that will be heading down next weekend. The supplies are - socks, gloves, coats, hats, hand sanitizer, trash bags, water, toiletries, soup with the pop top openers and other non perishable food. If you feel you'd like to help please let me know. I will be gathering supplies to get to the families. If you live too far away & you want to send money, I will be happy to go shopping to pick up the items needed. I will provide to you a receipt with the items I purchased.
Recently with all the devastation that is going on with Sandy, I realize that people struggle with what to say to those going through a loss. I’ve had this conversation with at least 6 or 7 people now. It’s tough to be in the shoes of where I stood almost 5 short months ago. I had always struggled myself before with what was the right thing to say whether it be a friend, acquaintance, stranger, etc going through something so devastating. Now that I am where I am today, I can tell you how I feel. I look at the pictures from Breezy Point NY, hear stories from friends in NJ, or watch the coverage and my heart sinks each time. It is gut wrenching to say the least. I don’t think there is any one way to break it down. For us it was a shocking phone call early in the morning…we had no idea that firefighters had been battling a blaze for the last 4 – 5 hours. For those in Breezy Point that stood and watched their house go up in flames & not be able to do one thing to make it stop. Or the ones that were inside the house while it was burning & had to be rescued. What’s worse? I don’t think there is a worse…it is devastation. There are tears, moments of “WOW”!
Recently with all the devastation that is going on with Sandy, I realize that people struggle with what to say to those going through a loss. I’ve had this conversation with at least 6 or 7 people now. It’s tough to be in the shoes of where I stood almost 5 short months ago. I had always struggled myself before with what was the right thing to say whether it be a friend, acquaintance, stranger, etc going through something so devastating. Now that I am where I am today, I can tell you how I feel. I look at the pictures from Breezy Point NY, hear stories from friends in NJ, or watch the coverage and my heart sinks each time. It is gut wrenching to say the least. I don’t think there is any one way to break it down. For us it was a shocking phone call early in the morning…we had no idea that firefighters had been battling a blaze for the last 4 – 5 hours. For those in Breezy Point that stood and watched their house go up in flames & not be able to do one thing to make it stop. Or the ones that were inside the house while it was burning & had to be rescued. What’s worse? I don’t think there is a worse…it is devastation. There are tears, moments of “WOW”!
So what do you say to someone that has just suffered devastation? It’s touchy. I think for us when someone acknowledged (or even still acknowledges) and says they are sorry for our loss it works….it meant(s) a lot to us. I can’t speak for everyone, but I know it can be uncomfortable at times…on both sides. These families lost their homes & belongings…it’s very much like losing a family member (which some have lost). There is the initial shock, grieving, anger, etc. There will be those that suffer from nightmares and days that you just can’t seem to move forward. Know that a simple thing like just listening when they seem to ramble about what happened means more than you will ever know. Right now their life as they’ve known is a wreck. There will be days that just seem like an endless wandering around not knowing what to do, how to do it, where to begin.
It’s also tough when you do want to help & you reach out to someone you know. Please know that for some it is so hard to accept the help. It’s not that you don’t want or appreciate the offer; you just don’t even know where to start. It also becomes an extremely humbling experience.
I don’t know if anyone that experienced a loss during Sandy reads my blog, or someone that knows someone… Just know my family & I our deeply saddened and we feel your pain. You are in our daily thoughts & prayers that you pull through this & come out stronger. I continue to pray that some sort of normalcy will come back into your life.
People from surrounding areas have been driving up to fill their tanks with gas. Lines coming out of gas stations were streaming into the streets causing havoc everywhere you turned. Gas has been delivered luckily to the Newburgh area.
The news that the NYC Marathon had been officially cancelled made me breath a big sigh of relief! I’ve been ranting about this because I just couldn’t wrap my mind around the whole thing. I mean what were these people thinking? Seriously knowing the level of devastation with so many that are still without power, you waited until the last minute. I am still shaking my head as I can understand some of the frustration felt. But, in the positive light…it is so nice to see some of the racers that came into town for the event stepping up & helping out.
Please keep the families still without power/generator in your thoughts & prayers. We are headed into some pretty cold weather. ... FREEZING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TONIGHT...
A CHILLY AIRMASS WILL BEGIN TO OVERSPREAD THE REGION TONIGHT. LOW TEMPERATURES WILL DROP TO OR A FEW DEGREES BELOW THE FREEZING MARK TONIGHT. THOSE WITHOUT POWER SHOULD PREPARE FOR A COLD NIGHT. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL OFFICIALS IF SHELTER IS NEEDED. Love, Peace & Happiness to all!!
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