More about hurricanes

As Hurricane Ike made the news today, I couldn't help thinking of my relatives, so I gave Sally a call. They were still feeling the effects of Gustav. For three days, they had no power. Further, the winds knocked a tree limb down onto their roof, damaging it and causing water damage to their home. Their almost-new mattress was ruined. Fortunately, home owner's insurance will cover the repairs. She told me that Sheila's and Delmer's houses both had water damage, too.

I feel guilty that I didn't call to check on everyone last weekend, but it has seemed like one endless cycle of hurricanes for weeks now. People here in Michigan often say to me that they could not imagine living where hurricanes come ashore. Of course, it isn't often that a hurricane comes ashore and does damage, especially not as far inland as my sisters and brother live.

We are still dealing with heavy rain. A tornado has been spotted south of us in Kalamazoo. Our basement continues to seep water, so today, my husband carried some power equipment down there and commenced to drilling and sawing. He has located where our basement wall is cracked, and of course, the crack is behind the wall where another interior wall intersects. Double the trouble.

We also got a short phone call from Aunt Evelyn. She has once again had to leave her home in Lake Charles to take refuge with relatives. Since my husband's mother is visiting relatives out of state, Evelyn went to Shreveport to stay with a cousin. I hope that cousin's house is better suited for a woman in a wheelchair. They had to dismantle a couple of door frames to handle Evelyn's wheelchair in my mother-in-law's house, since that wheelchair apparently is larger/wider than the one used by Doug's dad a few years ago.

It will soon be the anniversary of his death, too. I've had my father's death on my mind lately (it's been twenty years). Perhaps my husband is one to suffer silently, but his dad's death doesn't seem to have affected him as deeply as my father's death affected me. However, my husband is extremely close to his mother, and that will be immensely difficult for him when she passes away. Thankfully, she's going strong and doing well, so I'm hoping we won't have to face that event for many years to come. She is a special person, one whom I love deeply.

My friend Ellie will experience her sixtieth birthday next week. She looks great and enjoys wonderful health, fortunately. No one would think she is sixty. Her positive outlook keeps her young. When I think of my mother at age sixty (the age at which she died), I recall a bitter, dried-up, shriveled old crone, someone perpetually at death's door, someone who had long ago stopped being invested in living. It's far better to take care of your health and have an optimistic attitude, as Ellie does, than it is to wallow in your suffering and make sure everyone around you gets a chance to suffer, too.

My landlady, Betty, is 61. She is also lively and deeply involved in the world. She takes tai chi (spelling?) and belongs to an international movies group that meets weekly, in addition to her many duties as a faculty member. I wish I could introduce her to Ellie. I think those two would really enjoy each other's company. Despite having Meniere's disease, Betty does everything she wants to do: gardening, travelling, volunteering, working. I have told her several times she reminds me of my dear Aunt Susie, who was also one who lived life to the fullest.

It's time to plan something for supper. I doubt my spouse will want to eat tuna casserole again for supper, having had it last night and then again for lunch. Where is creativity when I need to think up a different menu?