How are we doing in St. Augustine?
We are strong, but fatigued.
Grateful - "It could have been much worse", yet heartbroken,
if not for ourselves,
then for the other.
There are still piles and piles of debris in most neighborhoods.
Debris that is mostly tree limbs and branches and spanish moss,
and some consist of peoples beds, sofas, cabinets, rugs..
There are homes that are no longer standing,
and motels and thrift stores that have all of their contents outside.
Some shops downtown lost everything.
There are stories, lots of stories.
Young people who stayed in St. Augustine after finishing school, always intending to leave,
who lost everything in their rented apartments in the flood zone, and are now leaving to continue their dreams.
People without jobs or homes who live here and want to stay.
We are still in a daze,
but working hard to get it back together
and feel "normal" again.
We are strong, grateful, moving forward...
I don't have the heart to take photos of the devastation, so will be posting beautiful photographs next week to inspire and comfort.