pags
October 29th, 2005, 06:32 PM
This thank you is long overdue for sure -- and I've been really wanting to post it for quite some time. Now that I'm able though, I am finding it hard to find the words.. so bear with me!
As most of you know by now - my family & I have recently lived through one of the worst natural disasters to ever strike the continental United States -- Hurricane Katrina. No one could ever have been prepared for what we had to face on August 29, 2005 -- or for what we had to endure afterwards. Forty-eight hours after the storm passed and the water receded we all found ourselves in various stages of panic, despair, and exhaustion. Totally alone, we realized that something was amiss and the, for lack of a better term, 'traditional' modes of rescue and recovery just were not going to be available. When we finally were able to get a cell phone signal out we still had one huge problem: Who could we call? Who could help? Who could get the word out that we weren't getting the help we needed? Well.. I thought of you. I thought of pets.ca and all of the people I have met here -- all of the people who held our hands and hugged us over huge distances when we lost our puppy and celebrated with us when we found Judge. That's when I called my mother-in-law and asked her to come to this site and post... I wasn't sure why or how -- but I knew that if anybody could help, it would be you.
And I wasn't wrong. So many of you have been absolutely incredible. Marko & David -- thank you for allowing the use of your forum to ask for help & donations! Thank you to all of you who have responded with much needed cash & items for my family and our community. Thank you to everyone who donated to relief organizations or has volunteered their time to help those in need. If you donated to the Red Cross, please know that ultimately they have helped us a great deal -- with an emergency monetary grant, with food and snacks for the kids, providing the tetanus shot when I stepped on a nail, and with wonderful, cheerful volunteers who still tirelessly patrol our neighborhood giving out what they can even when their supplies run low. Thank you.
For all of the notes of encouragement -- I read them all and needed them all exactly when I got them -- Thank you. For all of the prayers and wishes and generally good vibes -- Thank you.
At a time which could have been nothing but dark and dismal -- we were all encouraged knowing that so many of you had not forgotten us... And still on our very worst days we find it brightened by an unexpected letter, a box of clothes and toys, a postcard from South Carolina (thanks, chico! :) ) or some other act of random kindness generated by you. Thank you. And of course, a thousand thanks to Luba and her family for taking care of all of us from a thousand miles away. Much love and gratitude to you, Luba.
My two boys have decided they may move to Canada someday. I warn them that it gets pretty cold up there...but they tell me they'll be okay cause they have friends up there to help keep them warm. I couldn't put it any better than that. :D
-- Anita, Dave, George, William, Yvonne, Emily & our furry family members: Judge, Katrina, Sunny, Sahara, & Jo.
**We discovered well after the storm why some recovery efforts were delayed....**
As most of you know by now - my family & I have recently lived through one of the worst natural disasters to ever strike the continental United States -- Hurricane Katrina. No one could ever have been prepared for what we had to face on August 29, 2005 -- or for what we had to endure afterwards. Forty-eight hours after the storm passed and the water receded we all found ourselves in various stages of panic, despair, and exhaustion. Totally alone, we realized that something was amiss and the, for lack of a better term, 'traditional' modes of rescue and recovery just were not going to be available. When we finally were able to get a cell phone signal out we still had one huge problem: Who could we call? Who could help? Who could get the word out that we weren't getting the help we needed? Well.. I thought of you. I thought of pets.ca and all of the people I have met here -- all of the people who held our hands and hugged us over huge distances when we lost our puppy and celebrated with us when we found Judge. That's when I called my mother-in-law and asked her to come to this site and post... I wasn't sure why or how -- but I knew that if anybody could help, it would be you.
And I wasn't wrong. So many of you have been absolutely incredible. Marko & David -- thank you for allowing the use of your forum to ask for help & donations! Thank you to all of you who have responded with much needed cash & items for my family and our community. Thank you to everyone who donated to relief organizations or has volunteered their time to help those in need. If you donated to the Red Cross, please know that ultimately they have helped us a great deal -- with an emergency monetary grant, with food and snacks for the kids, providing the tetanus shot when I stepped on a nail, and with wonderful, cheerful volunteers who still tirelessly patrol our neighborhood giving out what they can even when their supplies run low. Thank you.
For all of the notes of encouragement -- I read them all and needed them all exactly when I got them -- Thank you. For all of the prayers and wishes and generally good vibes -- Thank you.
At a time which could have been nothing but dark and dismal -- we were all encouraged knowing that so many of you had not forgotten us... And still on our very worst days we find it brightened by an unexpected letter, a box of clothes and toys, a postcard from South Carolina (thanks, chico! :) ) or some other act of random kindness generated by you. Thank you. And of course, a thousand thanks to Luba and her family for taking care of all of us from a thousand miles away. Much love and gratitude to you, Luba.
My two boys have decided they may move to Canada someday. I warn them that it gets pretty cold up there...but they tell me they'll be okay cause they have friends up there to help keep them warm. I couldn't put it any better than that. :D
-- Anita, Dave, George, William, Yvonne, Emily & our furry family members: Judge, Katrina, Sunny, Sahara, & Jo.
**We discovered well after the storm why some recovery efforts were delayed....**