The devastation left behind from Hurricane Sandy is wide spread, unreal, and sad. Iconic areas of the Jersey Shore have been wiped away, businesses have been destroyed, people have lost their homes, the list goes on and on. Given all of that, I keep feeling guilty for being upset about the losses that we suffered which pale in comparison to the losses so many in NJ and NY have suffered. So let me start by saying that I am grateful that our home is still standing and grateful that everyone is safe and my heart goes out to the people whose losses are so very much greater than ours.
Homeowners on LBI were finally allowed back on the island today and My Wonderful Husband made the 4 hour trip to sit in line for several hours and got to see the damage first hand and start the process of cleaning up.... Our home sits on pilings and is raised off of the ground close to 6 ft but we have enclosed storage underneath the house. Luckily the living spaces of our home did not sustain any damage from the hurricane and for that I am very grateful. The roof, siding, shed, shower are all fine... There was no water damage inside. However the same could not be said for the fence or the storage area underneath the house. The flood waters literally picked the fence up and heaved it out of the ground. The water line under the house indicates about 4 ft of water rushed in and sloshed everything around under there. It is not a living space, so the damage is not in the same category as many of our neighbors who, not on pilings, essentially lost their entire first floors. We have some concerns about appliances - water heater, heat unit, etc...but aside from that (and my husband's surfboards which were not harmed) there is nothing of great monetary value down there. But there were things that had value and importance to us. Since I wasn't able to go with My Wonderful Husband today I had to rely on the pictures to see the damage....When I uploaded the pictures it felt similar to the feeling I have heard people say they have after a burglary. I felt violated when I looked at the pictures. Hurricane Sandy and her thug flood waters broke into my home - my family's home - wreaked havoc and left behind chaos. The water was gone but the wetness, dampness, mess and smell remained. Everything was ruined. Including and not limited to my childhood dollhouse. My Wonderful Husband had prepared me for this so the picture was sickening but not shocking. There it sat, flipped over after sloshing around in salt water for who knows how many days, bouncing around. You can't see in the picture but it was soaked - beyond repair. It went in the trash pile. Along with my parent's holiday decorations, my children's Easter baskets, kids' toys, tools, cabinets, etc... I remember the Christmas that I got that dollhouse - waking up and finding it all put together and decorated. My mother would sew me bedspreads and pillows. I loved that dollhouse. That was why I saved it for my daughter. She loved it too. My dad and I were going to work together to return it to it's heyday splendor - but then life got in the way...he kept having health issues and it was not the first thing on the agenda...then we ran out of time to do it. Now, it's in the trash. So, tonight I am thankful that our house is standing and the damage is hopefully manageable. But at the same time, I hope you can pardon me while I mourn the things that did not make it through the storm untouched. Childhood memories, a sense of safety, and my heart.
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