Flood Cleanup

We had the privilege of getting to help folks clean up some from the flood.  It's easy to understand why they needed help, not only because there was so much to do, but because it's got to be almost impossible to throw out your treasures, even if they are ruined.  A clean up crew comes in with no knowledge of what things cost or how long they have had them or how precious they are to the occupants and so the crew can go ahead and do what needs to be done--go through cupboards and closets and toss beautiful clothes, keepsakes, and mementos that are soaked and ruined--tear down fireplace mantles, trash TVs, drag out expensive sofas and beautiful tables--rip out kitchen cabinets and floors and destroy a piano so it can be dragged out to throw on the pile in front of the house.  I can't say that it was easy for us to do those things, but it was easier than it was for the people to whom all those things belonged.  And then when all those things are out of the house and the wallboard is cut and thrown out, then they can look at the bare studs and the cement floor and decide what they want to do with the house.  No treasures blocking their vision and thinking.  They can move forward.  

Here is that beautiful piano that we had to break up and drag out.  The lid is on the floor.  

We loved helping, but we didn't last long.  We don't have the stamina we used to have.  The man used to be able to work in the yard all day, chopping weeds, cutting trees, digging trenches.  I used to be able to carry babies and car seats and run upstairs with a load of laundry and then cook and clean up after dinner and then go to a meeting.  Not any longer for either of us.  We did decide, though, that we won't be caught that way again.  Next emergency we will be stronger.  We have some free weights that we are using and building up our muscles and hopefully some stamina so we can be more useful next time.  

I sent Kathy a picture of these hats because I know she loves pretty old hats and she said she was happy to see that something was saved.  

There were lots of things saved.  The place that had these hats was where the owner was a widower who collected lots of things.  He had boxes and boxes and boxes of stamps, antique toys, old phonograph records, Christmas decorations.  I can't tell you how many boxes of these he had.  And we were able to save very very many of them.  And still he felt like his whole life was gone.  Some people wrap themselves around their things.  And some people are like the little lady that watched us throw away all her china figurine collection crashing into the wheelbarrow.  She said, Oh well, I can buy them again.  And some are grateful they are alive and still have all their family.  President Eulett of the temple presidency said, We had too many things anyway.  And he went out and started helping all his neighbors.  He said they lost probably 90% of their stuff.  But it was just stuff.  

The last place we went was to a house on the river that had had the river come up over the banks into the house and when it receded it left heaps of trash on the bank behind the house.  The trash was 2 feet deep with huge dock pieces and tree limbs, bottles, chunks of wood and plastic.  It spread across the  whole back of their pool fence.   I wish I had taken a picture of the pile before we cleaned it, but here are Brother and Sister Callens in their cleanup shirts with a piece of the flotsam.  

The emotion of it came home to us, though, when the bank called and said we needed to come clean out our safe deposit box.  The bank had flooded and everything was soaked and ruined.  We went down and retrieved our special papers.  I have to say, I felt a pang.  And that was just papers.  We brought them home and spread them out and Dad saved most of the important ones--our passports and car titles, our will and so forth.  

It was a good thing to have done because you remember that we had a burial policy that we bought when we lived in American Fork 20 years ago.  After Dad dried it out and we read it we realized that it only was good if we remained Utah residents till it was used.  So we have no more policy.  But Dad is philosophical about it all.  He said he has paid for insurance all his life that never has been used.  No big deal.  We still have the plots in Provo and our headstones.  Still we are sorry that you will have to pay for the last funeral from your inheritances.  

We are sort of at loose ends at the moment because the temple was also flooded and we don't have the opportunity to serve there anymore.  Someone took a beautiful picture of it though.  

The bottom floors will have to be totally rebuilt.  There is a basement that housed the furnaces and lots of machinery that was flooded not to mention the whole first floor with the baptistry, workers' dressing rooms, laundry, security offices, and lunch room.  When the temple presidency went into it with President Uchtdorf President Eulett said the whole bottom floor had been gutted and you could see from outside wall to outside wall.  So, like the lady who lost her figurines, we can start anew and rebuild again.  It will be interesting to see if they change anything.  I wonder if they will rededicate it since it will be extensive repair.  The whole upstairs is still perfect, though.  We will just have to wait and see what they decide.  They haven't given any date for opening again.  

Since the temple is closed for now we decided to go to Dallas to do some of the work we have had pending.  It's a four hour trip up there.  Dad and I drove up on a Wednesday and did 10 endowments and then drove home.  It was a very long day, but felt good to have done so much work.  Then Friday we and Heather went back and did more work, spent the night and continued into Saturday till evening.  We came home tired but happy to have completed so much.  

Downtown Dallas.  We drove past downtown and got to the temple fairly easily on the other side.  

They will be closing now for six weeks so we will get to go to San Antonio.  They only open at 3 though, so that won't give us much time to do what we need to do.  Maybe we could go to Phoenix and mix work with the pleasure of a visit with Collinses.  That would be really fun.  

Well, so much for the flood.  You are all probably tired of hearing about it.  Better news is that Heather has finally got her job as she wanted it.  The girl she was replacing has finally left and Heather has her own desk and full time hours for the moment.  The doctor said he would try it and see how the finances work out.  He is happy to have her full time if he can afford it.  Apparently he is working on a tight budget.  We all hope he will be very successful and make lots of money.  He isn't in it for the money, but to help people, but he still has to support his family and pay the bills.  

When Amber finally left and Heather really got her own place, we went out to dinner at PF Changs, Heather's favorite restaurant.    

Well today was General Conference and it was wonderful.  I thought most all the talks were about being good Christians, loving and not judging--keeping the commandments and being true and faithful.  It will be good to get the Ensign and read it all again.  I am so very very grateful to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.  What a miracle it is upon the earth.  It makes me so very happy and gives me peace and a sweet joy.  I know that there is life after death and look forward to seeing my parents and brother again.  I hope they have accepted the gospel and that they are filled with joy and peace too.  

I love you all so very much and am grateful that you are all in my life.  You are who make living fun and meaningful.