What to write . . .

The world has changed since my last post. Hurricane Katrina swept the gulf coast, obliterating Gulfport, Biloxi, and New Orleans, among other cities. The population of Jackson has swelled to accommodate refugees, and lines for gas, ice, and other supplies are springing up all over the metro area.

Many residents in metro Jackson have been without power since Monday, although more and more people I speak with are having their power restored everyday. Some were without water, although that is now improving, too. Phone service is spotty, particularly cellular service.

We lost some shingles from our roof, and we had tons of tree limbs in our yard. We lost power, but we never lost water service. (Thank you, Pearl River Valley Water Supply District.) Tonight, we'll head home, try to cover the roof, and empty out the fridge. I've heard that power has now been restored in my home (We'll find out tonight.), but even if it hasn't been, I'm still one of the lucky ones.

Troy, my husband's brother-in-law, rode out the storm on the coast with his parents, his aunt and uncle, and his brother's extended family. Miraculously, they all survived. Troy's house is even intact. They have been spending the last few days clearing roads in their neighborhood, ripping ruined carpet and furniture out of homes, and trying to stay alive. He drove up to Clinton last night, and we tried to help him stock up on water, ice, food, and gas. He headed back down there this morning. What a nightmare. God bless them and keep them.

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