Thank you, Evelyn for writing to all of us on the list. So happy you
have been spared the worst. I feel so sorry for all those families
caught in the ice storms and so forth that knocks out power.We never
know what hardships they may be going through. I lived without power
once, for eight days, when my husband was very sick with cancer and we
had to go to Birmingham for his chemo...we had the ice storm that came
in, suddenly. We had started to B'ham that morning...and on the radio
heard that ice was covering Columbus Ms...and before we reached the
outskirts of the city...was told that sleet and ice was forming in
B'ham...and it was hazardous driving...well, knowing we would be in UAB
for several hours...and the kids were back home, in school, etc...my
husband asked me to turn around...By the time I got back into
Tuscaloosa, took him by his doctors office, then to get prescriptions
filled...and food bought, vehicles gassed up, etc...it was snowing and
icing very heavy...our daughter, a highschool senior skidded and hit a
garbage truck, really messing up the new car we had just given her for
graduation.. .......We had ice for two weeks, due to the temps.. Each
morning I went out with a kettle of hot water...moved back the tarp I
had put over the GMC TravelAll..and thawed the door handles until I
could get in and keep it cranked...not knowing my husband's condition.I
was in touch with the rescue team in our area too.Our next door neighbor
had a four wheeler...he came over every day to check on James....and we
had a huge fireplace and plenty of wood.I bedded him down on the couch
in the den, pulled up in front of the fireplace...because he was never
warm...I had to cook on the coals.Our heat was electric, so was the hot
water heater...I would put containers on the coals...heating water to
put in the tub for quick baths, and hot water bottle to his feet...it
was a full time job, but we had some fun times too. You really learn how
to spend time with your family. I had a gas line run
from the road, a meter, and put gas logs in, shortly after that in our
second fireplace, in our living room. We had raised food in a
big garden...and had a freezer full of fresh veggies and fruits, and
meats. I wrapped guilts around the freezer to keep air out...and tried
to use all I could, and gave it away to people who needed it... but we
had an insurance loss on food...so did others we knew.Didn't mean to
write a book, As I said...I feel for them...some are having it rougher
than others.Now, we are a little better off...having cell phones.
generators,and natural gas heat of all kinds. etc. Love and prayers to
all.... Stella