Are you okay?

A park near my home, those signs are six feet tall. 

This last week has been a doozie. And that’s putting it mildly.

We’re so freaking lucky, with only large trees down and water issues that could be fixed within three days (more on that in a minute).  Even though this entire drama seemed MAJOR in the moment, I know our issues aren’t major at all.

Please help our NC friends if you can. They need us.

This summer has been one for the books to be honest. My son had major, major surgery. I can tell you firsthand that the only pain WORSE than the pain you feel yourself is the pain you feel witnessing a child (of any age) going through something incredibly hard. I won’t go into too much detail because it is my very grown and capable son’s story to share, but we almost lost him to sepsis after his surgery. Google “sepsis” — it is very scary stuff. I felt the angels join us as he fought for his life in the trauma ER room. He spent over three weeks in the hospital and 12 weeks total recovering.

Luckily, he is still with us and getting stronger each day.  

Losing a child is something I can’t say I understand. I know for sure what someone told me about the experience — you never get OVER it, you simply get THROUGH it.

So thankful it was not his time to leave this world.

Then we had a hurricane called Helene pass through our neck of the woods. Power out everywhere. Our beautiful old trees grounded by the blows that mother nature tossed our way on a random Friday morning.

People dead.

And here it what is on my heart and mind.

We have it all wrong. We really do.

During this time, I got to see the best of our world and humanity.

I posted a quick message on social media about the 26 inches of rain in the basement. Immediately I got texts and messages from friends and “only social media friends” offering help. Our friends who have a house here and in Florida offered their generator in their house’s garage while they were out of town. We went through a war zone in Greenville to try and get it. No luck. A friend offered a room at his hotel. I got a message from someone I have never met. “I can be there in the morning” which was now Sunday. He came and worked hours, he worked really hard. I didn’t know him well, but knew of him and knew he was a contractor. Well after he was done, we said “Come in so we can settle up.” He said, “You don’t owe me anything. I’m just trying to help”.

Wow.

Brings tears to my eyes to type this.

People are so good and amazing. Sometime the Universe sends angels. I felt them in my son’s fight for his life and in this battle with nature.

I really don’t like politics to be frank. I heard Kamala Harris on an ad say about her time as a defender, “I never asked — are you democrat or republican, I simply asked, “Are you okay?”

I want that world.

No one asked me once or mentioned politics during my son’s ordeal or in this hurricane. They just asked, are you okay?

Can we go back to that? That will Make American Great…. it IS what makes America a very wonderful place to call home.

I love you all madly, and if anyone needs anything. I’m can say this, I am so here if you need help of any kind.

Let us all just be here. For each other. Let’s open our hearts and keep our community circles wide. It matters. A lot.

OX, Robbin