Did you know that October is Physical Therapy Appreciation Month?
I wasn’t aware of this until I overheard a conversation about it two weeks ago during my physical therapy session.
If you’re like me, you might be surprised to learn that they get an entire month for this recognition. They certainly deserve it, in my humble opinion.
Speaking of which, today, I’m 20 weeks post surgery. It’s hard to believe that five months have passed since I went under the knife to repair my right shoulder.
To date, I’ve been in physical therapy nearly eleven months, so I am especially appreciative of the knowledgeable and gentle care I’ve been provided.
I found it sad that the sweet little office I visit each week barely got a nod of thanks, so I grabbed a box of cookies from my favorite place and took it with me last week.
There are five full time physical therapists in the practice I go to, along with the gal who runs the front desk and the young lady who takes care of the insurance.
They have always been kind to me. They quickly remembered my name and made me feel welcome.
I’ve seen them interact with many, many patients – some of them frequent fliers like myself – others one-and-done.
Their patience knows no bounds, which I can’t imagine given the horrible condition most of us start out in and the incredible amount of pain we’re suffering from during many of our early appointments.
It’s not uncommon for patients to get sick their first visit because of the stress of trying to move body parts that don’t want to cooperate. I nearly threw up during my first visit after my first surgery last December.
I want to be mindful of other places where service goes unnoticed – taken for granted or demanded with the expectation that it’s their job to do such and such.
That little box of cookies put huge smiles on the therapists’ faces and reminded me that it doesn’t take much to make someone feel appreciated.
Oh, and my shoulders are doing great! The left one hardly has any pain these days. The right one is coming along nicely. The pain continues to decrease while my ability to complete routine tasks improves each week.
My internal rotation continues to be a struggle with my shoulder unable to comply, but I know, from what I’ve been through with my left one, that it needs more time and work in the physical therapy room.
My precious five year old granddaughter constantly exclaims over how good my arm is now that it’s out of the sling, and we enjoy flexing our muscles to one another when we FaceTime. I make sure to brag on the “doctors” for the way they help me. I want her to know that doctors are helpers – used by God to provide healing.
I don’t know how much longer I’ll be in physical therapy. I’m thinking it will be a couple more months. I’ll be sad when it’s time to part ways, but I am grateful for having the opportunity, once again (I did seven months of therapy after I broke my ankle a few years ago) to see God’s hand at work, through the human hands I’ve been blessed to do life with this year.
Is it just me, or has October gone by in a flash? Time seems to speed up with the fun events that accompany fall.
Thank goodness for the weekly Hodgepodge, which almost feels like a reset/check-in . . . a time to pause for a few minutes while mulling over the questions Joyce has posed for us.
Let’s get started, shall we?
1. Are you a risk taker? To what degree?
I wouldn’t say I’m a risk taker. I tend to be cautious and consider new things from a variety of angles. However, that doesn’t mean that I’m opposed to taking a well-informed risk because I do enjoy an adventure every now and again.
2. What’s your favorite candy? Would you say you have a sweet tooth?
I love Twizzlers. I’ve mentioned before that they happen to be vegan – thank goodness because this is my go-to candy when I see a movie in a theater.
I wouldn’t say that I have a sweet tooth. I rarely indulge in desserts, and if I do, they are usually ones I’ve prepared to ensure that they are vegan. My milk allergy makes it difficult to enjoy many desserts.
3. Somewhere you’ve been recently that had you feeling ‘like a kid in a candy store’?
I guess my little shopping trip to find an orange sweatshirt for our game against Georgia was the most recent time I’ve felt like a kid in a candy store. Seeing all of the fun Auburn-themed apparel was a little overwhelming. I could have easily purchased a few items!
4. What do you think is the most effective way to make a positive change in the world?
I think that the most effective way to make a positive change in the world is by taking the time to treat each person with respect – looking for opportunities to extend kindness. This can have a trickle-down effect, much like a stone creating ripples when thrown into a pond.
5. Do you like surprises?
Not all surprises are good, y’all, so I’m going into this answer with this mindset.
Finding out I’d broken my ankle almost nine years ago was a very unpleasant surprise. I was quite dismayed when I learned that I’d torn both of my shoulders up last year and needed surgery.
Yeah, surprises with my health are not usually my favorite.
Now, if I’m surprised with an unexpected visit from a friend or a beloved family member, I’m all in. Many years ago, my dad surprised me when he showed up on my doorstep, carrying a beautiful birthday cake a professional chef friend of his had made. He’d traveled all the way from Texas to pull off this sweet surprise. It’s a memory I’ll always treasure – especially since my dad passed away unexpectedly in 2001.
6. My Random Thought
Today is my youngest grandchild’s FIRST birthday!
How is time passing so quickly?
Our E girl is my daughter’s mini me. When I look at E, I see my little Chicky girl at the same age, so full of pluck – always into something – always ready for an adventure.
E has been walking for a few weeks now. She started a week or two after we went down to visit J for his birthday.
We suspect that the allure of her big brother’s toys and his own wild shenanigans motivated her to learn to walk a little earlier than he did.
She is the happiest little girl, unless it’s five in the morning and she wants her paci.
Being a grandparent has to be one of the most priceless privileges God has bestowed upon me.
Oh my, but the temperature certainly took a dip Sunday. We had rain that brought in cold temps, so I had to pull out sweaters for my work week.
Friday and Saturday were glorious though!
I worked through lunch all week so I could leave work several hours early Friday.
We headed north to visit our boy and his little family, because a certain Little Miss was celebrating her 5th birthday!
Gambit always travels with us when we visit our son. Gambit doesn’t especially enjoy the car ride, but he prefers that over being left behind.
We rode with the windows down the entire time. It was glorious. My hair wasn’t so much, though. Ha!
The traffic was horrendous – some of the worst we’ve seen in all of our travels back and forth to our boy’s house. There was so much road work happening, along with people gawking at who knows what. It took forever to get to our destination.
We got the biggest hug from our sweet E once we arrived, and then we headed out for dinner. She was starving. We all were.
Our kids take us some place new every time we visit. Friday night, we ate at Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar. We had the absolute BEST pretzel. Our server was kind and mindful of my special dietary needs.
When we got back to the house, we let E open her presents. Five is a really fun age. E was dialed in to all things birthday-related.
She enjoyed the Noah’s Ark game we gave her. I found it on Amazon.
Gambit got comfortable. He adores our boy and his family.
You might remember that our son’s dog passed away this past summer.
E, being almost five, took the news well and immediately asked if they could get another dog. They found a litter of golden doodles that was born the same day their other dog passed away. They took it as a God nod.
Kevin, their little guy, is four months old and has quite the personality.
My heart, y’all. I am a sucker for a puppy. This little guy still has that puppy smell that made my heart melt.
Gambit wanted nothing to do with him.
Gambit is almost 15. He doesn’t have time for antics.
He does have time for his girl. They’ve been tight ever since they first laid eyes on each other when she was a wee little baby. He’s always been gentle with her, and she’s always been tender towards him.
E got busy with her other toys. We’d also given her a sewing kit with material to make a few projects.
We purchased this gift from Amazon as well.
Their kitchen table looked like Hobby Lobby had thrown up on it.
Saturday morning, E’s other grandparents came to the house. They live a little over an hour away. They had their own present opening time. E was quite hyped up by the time we loaded up our cars and headed to the venue my daughter-in-law had booked for the party.
On the way, she kept repeating, “This is the best birthday party ever!” We had to laugh because we hadn’t even had the party yet.
It was a large warehouse type of place, empty except for a couple of bounce houses, a basketball court, and tables.
That was fine for the large group of five year olds who joined us.
E was so good and didn’t open anything. I’m not sure about this new thing people have with taking presents home to open them. I miss the days of the kids getting to see their friends open what they picked out for them, and the opportunity the birthday child has to thank their friends for their gifts.
We had a fun time, and cleanup was a breeze.
Funnily enough, Auburn was playing Arkansas at the time, and our phone service was terrible in the building. The Mr. and our boy made frequent trips outside to check on the game. Shockingly, we won. Ha!
The hubby and our boy grilled out something or another for dinner. I was too busy playing with E, who had opened all of her gifts when we got back to the house, to notice.
Before we knew it, E was getting ready for bed. We were all exhausted!
We attended church Sunday morning. My daughter-in-law had started attending a church she found close to their house, so off we went. Then, we grabbed lunch at their house before we hit the road to come back home.
Traffic was much better on the way home, even with the rain. We got home in record time, and it didn’t take long to get unpacked. Gambit collapsed on the couch. He was ready for some quiet time!
Gosh, the weekends we spend visiting our kiddos sure do seem to fly by. It’s hard leaving my sweet grandbabies. They always ask us to stay longer.
Sigh.
So, how was your weekend? Did you do anything fun? Did your team win?
Look at me being pun-ny with the title of this week’s Hodgepodge, hosted by Joyce.
There are quite the variety of questions, and I am down for them.
Thanks for visiting, and I will do my very best to reciprocate!
1. What do you like most about your family?
I’m not sure if I can pick one thing I like the most about my family. I guess, if I have to, I’d say that I love that my little crew is always up for an adventure. I’m not sure that anyone exactly verbalized having a yearly family trip, but that is exactly what’s happened the last two years. I’m already tossing around ideas in my mind for the end of next spring and can’t wait to broach the subject when my kiddos are here in a few weeks.
2. What’s something nice that’s happened to you recently?
Gosh. I’m so blessed that nice things happen to me frequently. What stands out the most was when my coworker brought back a vegan cookie from Insomnia Cookies one day after lunch. It was literally a sweet pick me up that carried me through the afternoon.
3. Do you like the color orange? Besides a pumpkin and an actual orange, what’s something orange you love?
Y’all, I am an Auburn fan. I love all things orange, but it’s more of a burnt orange, not the light orange of Tennessee, the bright orange of UF, or the brown-orange of Texas A&M.
This is the orange sweatshirt I bought for the game against Georgia game . . . the night all Auburn fans learned the correct way to clap. Ahem. I may still be salty about that game.
4. What’s something you have now you couldn’t have imagined having five years ago? How does that make you feel? What’s possible now because of it?
Five years ago, I didn’t have any grandchildren. One was on the way, but she hadn’t made her appearance yet. Now, we have three precious angels, and their sweet little selves makes my heart overflow with love. Watching them grow up, learn to walk, talk, and crack jokes is the most amazing honor of my life.
What’s possible now is looking at the world through their innocent eyes – accepting people at face value without preconceived notions – and simply living life full throttle without caring quite as much about what people think.
5. Let’s wrap this one up with an October this or that…
pumpkin bread or apple cider donut
cozy sweater or cozy hoodie
apple picking or pumpkin picking
scary movie or Hallmark movie
hay ride or corn maze
twinkle lights or candles
autumn hike or autumn bonfire
I’ll take the following please: apple cider donut, cozy hoodie, apple picking, neither type of movie because I don’t like scary or cheesy, hay ride, candles, and an autumn bonfire
6. My Random Thought
Sunday, I woke up with a bit of a sore throat thanks to a close football game the night before that required the excessive use of my lungs to yell cheer encouraging words to my beloved Tigers.
I ran a couple of errands and made a rare stop at Starbucks to grab one of these.
I still miss Charlie so much. His ability to kindly debate a variety topics was inspiring, and his faith was resolute.
Sigh.
I continue to pray for his wife and family as they try to figure out how to live their lives honoring his memory and serving the Lord.
Friday, I ran to Publix during lunch to pick up a sub I’d ordered and a few random things I needed.
I also brought home some tomatoes that my boss had brought in from her garden.
Honestly, I can’t remember much about the evening. I think we sat on the patio for a while, but Gambit has gotten persnickety, so when he decides he wants to go in, you go in. He’s old and gets almost everything he wants.
I retired to my bed early and read until I called it a night.
This book, y’all . . . It is so good!
It traces the “golden thread” (i.e. Christianity) throughout our country’s history.
Saturday, I got going as soon as I opened my eyes. With a night game looming ahead of me, I had a few hours to take care of my to-do list, which including prepping a vegan potato soup.
First, I made the tofu bacon bits.
Did you know that if you bake shredded tofu, it takes on the consistency of meat?
The spices in this made it taste like bacon after I pulled the tray from the oven.
Then, I made the soup. It was absolutely delightful and will make for some very satisfying lunches this week.
I did a little bit of cleaning because a good friend was coming to our house for the game and an overnight visit. He and the Mr. were fraternity brothers back in the day. He’s partially retired and living his best life.
I got ready for the game. The plan was to stripe the stadium; our section was charged with wearing blue.
We tailgated before heading into the stadium.
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again. Night games are the MOST fun! Temperature-wise, they are perfect for this time of year, but the bright lights and music make for a memorable experience.
Unfortunately, the government shutdown has taken away the traditional military flyovers.
I didn’t get a video of the eagle because I couldn’t figure out where they were releasing her from. She did a lovely job though!
We were filled with nervous energy given the terrible experience the week before. I’m sure the players were anxious as they waited in the tunnel.
We screamed, we sang, and we waved our shakers as the players ran onto the field.
Watching them kneel to pray in the end zone always fills my heart with gratitude for the way they demonstrate their faith.
The game started, and the first flag was thrown. We rolled our eyes when we heard that the call was being reviewed. Déjà vu anyone?
I will say that overall, refs did a fair job.
We managed to score early.
I put a reminder in my phone to grab this freebie one evening after work.
Then Auburn had to be Auburn. We went into two overtimes and lost.
I’m glad that I’m not in a position to make staffing decisions. I am a bit tenderhearted when it comes to people and their livelihood, but as a staunch Auburn fan, I’m frustrated and sad for the kids who come here to play – while recognizing that NIL has definitely changed the whole college football situation.
Sigh.
The walk back to the car was sad, but at least nobody barked at us.
It was almost midnight when we got home, but we tuned into the FSU/Stanford game, which wound up being a nail biter. FSU lost, thank goodness. I’ve never liked this team. We lived in Tallahassee for five years, and some of their fans were rough to deal with.
College football turns you into a not-so nice, judgy person sometimes.
We eked out every single minute with our friend and didn’t go to bed until almost 2am.
Sunday, we skipped church. My throat hurt from yelling too much, the Mr. was worn out because he’d had to return to the car prior to the game the day before to retrieve his phone, which had our tickets on it, and our friend was still visiting.
After he left, we ran errands. I picked up this beautiful eyeshadow pallet from Ulta.
Then, I made naan. I had seen a recipe come across my feed and knew I wanted this to go with my potato soup.
It turned out so good!
I spent the rest of the afternoon reading, washing bedding, making another jalapeño popper cheese ball, and nursing my sore throat.
I also picked out my clothes for the week. We are expecting cooler temperatures, so I’ve started pulling out long sleeve and light sweaters.
Mine has been almost identical to last week, so I cannot complain. I thrive on routine.
I’m loving the fun questions that Joyce came up with. My answers are posted below.
1. Do you make an effort to see/hear live music? Last time you went somewhere for the live music?
I can’t say that I go out of my way to listen to live music, unless I’m on a cruise, where activities abound, and I don’t have to drive home.
That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy live music, but I’m a bit of a homebody, so making a lot of effort to do things that require attire besides pajamas doesn’t usually find its way into my schedule.
The last time I saw live music was at a tailgate we visited last weekend before our disastrous game. Our friends who run the tailgate usually hire someone to play guitar and sing. Last week’s singer did a great job.
2. According to HGTV the colors of the year for 2026 are mostly decided. Top paint companies declare a color of the year, and decorators will incorporate that into their new year home and room designs. Here’s what’s on tap in terms of paint trends for 2026 (check out the link here to see photos)
Sherwin Williams-universal khaki (inspired by heavy canvas and outdoor gear)
Behr-hidden gem (a confident shade of teal)
Valspar-warm eucylyptus (a warm sliver tinted green)
Dutch Boy-melodious ivory (a honey tinted beige)
Glidden-warm mahogany (a classic brick red)
Krylon-matte coffee bean
Clark and Kensington -Hazelnut Crunch (warm reddish-brown)
Graham and Brown-Divine Damson (cherry red with a subtle violet undertone)
Dunn and Edwards-midnight garden (the green that works everywhere)
First question-did you know there were so many different paint manufacturers? Which color on the list most appeals to you in terms of your own decorating style? Do you have plans to do any painting in your home in the coming year, and if so might you choose a color from this list?
Honestly, I’ve never given much thought to paint manufacturers. We have rarely done the painting thing, so I haven’t had to select paint colors very often.
Our style aligns most with Melodious Ivory. We are simple people with simple tastes. Plus, my husband isn’t very adventurous when it comes to putting colors on walls.
I don’t think painting is in our near future. We are planning on remodeling our screened-in porch in the spring, but I don’t think we will be painting anything. The porch has white concrete/stone walls that look very clean. We will, however, be selecting flooring / tile, along with new furniture.
Now, forget painting walls, which color name appeals to you most?
The name that appeals most to me is Warm Eucalyptus. I love the smell of eucalyptus. The healing properties of this plant give me all of the warm, fuzzy feelings.
3. What’s something in your life you have to do-watch-or participate in that’s about as exciting as ‘watching paint dry’?
I just scheduled my yearly eye exam, which I absolutely loathe. Picking which lens is better (1 or 2, 3 or 4) drives me crazy because they all look the same. Ugh.
4 . Tuesday, October 14th is/was National Dessert day…did you/will you celebrate? Tell us how? What’s your absolute favorite dessert. Yes, just one. I know!!
I had no clue about National Dessert Day until I started working on these questions. I probably will not participate, or maybe I will, but I’ll delay it until Friday when I take a noontime stroll to Insomnia Cookies. Their vegan chocolate chip cookies are divine!
I’m not sure that I have a favorite dessert, truth be told. Being lactose intolerant and a vegan severely limits what I can have. If I have to choose one thing, I’d say vegan chocolate ice cream. It’s what I ate after both of my shoulder surgeries. The ice cream alleviated the discomfort of my sore throat (intubation during surgery is always rough). That’s the excuse I gave my husband when I asked him to buy me a few pints.
5. Perhaps today is the day I willclean up our guest bedroom in preparation for a friend, who’s going to stay with us Saturday night after the football game.
6. My Random Thought
Staying with the food theme, I adore my colleagues so much – especially J, who is my bestie there. She is a hoot, and we share a love for all things snacky.
Y’all have seen the food prep I do each weekend. Prior to my shoulder surgeries, I cooked a lot and often took snacks and desserts in to work to share with my work peeps. I’ve been unable to do much lately because shoulder surgery is beastly.
Still, J and I manage to find a way to keep each other fed.
Last week, she brought extra salsa and chips from her lunchtime excursion.
I ate all of that – even after eating my lunch.
Oops.
Guess who skipped dinner that night? Ha!
Y’all have a great week, and say a prayer for us Auburn folks. We aren’t doing too well after last weekend’s game. We have another tough game ahead of us Saturday.
If you watched our football game Saturday, you’ll get my tongue-in-cheek title for this post.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
How was your weekend?
Mine started off just fine and dandy.
As I walked in to work Friday morning, I saw that people were already taping off tailgate areas.
People were everywhere when I took a lunchtime stroll. I was a little surprised because Saturday’s game was scheduled for the evening, leaving plenty of time for folks to come into town.
My supervisor and another colleague were out on Friday, so it was especially quiet in the office. Plus, our students were on Fall Break and didn’t have class Thursday or Friday.
When I got home, I found this new lunch bag waiting on me.
I’d been using a free one that my phone carrier had given customers last year. It had Velcro and would stick to everything, including my clothes. A new bag was in order!
Hubby and I watched another episode of The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, and then we parted ways for the evening so I could continue my binging of Survivor while he watched something else.
I finished Season 7 in the wee hours of the night (who remembers Rupert and Sandra?). What a season!
Saturday morning, I was up before 7, drinking tea, and meal prepping.
Gambit was a slow riser.
I wanted to take advantage of my free time before we needed to leave for the game.
I always think I like roasting peppers myself – forgetting how much work it is!
It takes awhile to bake and peel them. The effort is worth it though.
This soup is incredibly flavorful, even without the pesto topping, which I chose not to make this time.
I worked on my Christmas list and played my word games. I also washed my hair – such a task but so needed!
Was it bad that we put our bleacher chairs in the car while we distracted Gambit by feeding him? He is a smart boy and gets anxious when he knows we are going somewhere.
We finally left the house around 3. Whew!
We visited a couple of tailgates and saw some local friends we hadn’t seen in several weeks. Life, as routine as it is, is busy, so finding time to get together is challenging.
These gatherings are just one of many reasons why I love football season so much.
The lines to get into the stadium were long. With us playing Georgia, it was almost like a hometown game. It certainly was a rivalry game. I think this rivalry is the oldest in the South.
I never tire of the pre-game pageantry, which includes the eagle’s flight around the stadium.
Night games are the most fun!
And the first half was fun . . . until there was 1:25 left.
Sheesh. Y’all probably know about the messed up goal line call.
My precious Tigers were playing the best I’d seen in several games, and then the horrendous penalties were called, with abnormally long wait times for the calls to be reviewed – always in Georgia’s favor.
That minute 25 seconds took between 36 and 38 minutes to complete. The ineptitude was beyond comprehension.
I sat and watched an entire stadium, minus the other team’s fans, grow more and more angry.
This was my take on the game at halftime.
Y’all, I’m not going to lie. Sitting through that game challenged my ability act in a Christlike manner.
I wanted to say all of the cuss words. I didn’t need to because the drunk people around me were saying the words for me.
Sheesh.
The halftime show was touted to be a fun light show, created with the assistance of the engineering school, but I don’t think people paid much attention because of what we’d been forced to endure minutes before.
Cam Newton’s jersey was retired during a halftime ceremony.
The poor calls continued into the second half, which took a mental toll on players and fans. Our guys came out flat and disheartened.
I always love the transition from the third to the fourth quarter. The swag song plays, and during night games, fireworks add to the hype.
The weather was glorious. I’d purchased a new sweatshirt – orange to fit in with the game’s theme – and only had to put it on toward the end of the game.
The gal who sits behind us called it Sailor Aubie. I’ll never be able to unsee or unhear this. Ha!
It didn’t help when Georgia’s coach made a questionable (ahem) timeout request that he was not docked for. Sheesh.
With two minutes left in the game, we were only down by three points and had the ball. You would have thought the stadium would be rocking.
Everyone was sitting. Nobody was cheering.
Georgia took full advantage and outplayed us at the end. We were never able to recover.
The walk back to the car was sad. I ranted. I never rant, y’all, but I was on it.
I’d made the mistake of being on Twitter during the game, and reading comments that backed up my feelings fed my angst and sadness.
A couple of GA fans barked at us as they passed by. Rudeness has no limits sometimes.
If I’d been a Georgia fan, I would have walked out humbly. That’s no way to win a game, when the refs are helping you. A section of their fans cheered and sang songs during the last part of the game when one of our players got hurt.
Rudeness. You can find it in every fandom.
We got home very, very late. Gambit was happy, but we went to bed with heavy hearts.
Sunday morning, I wasn’t sure I was up for attending church. My body was tired, but I got ready, and away we went. Thank goodness! I was able to get my priorities back in order.
After church, I prepped another Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball.
So much mess – worth the trouble though.
I also made another batch of my ginger-turmeric juice.
I prep a bottle every couple of weeks.
Then, I headed out to the library to pick up a book I’d seen someone comment on. I cannot wait to dig in!
I ran to Ulta before heading back home to finish washing bedding – a weekly chore I don’t love but must do because of a dog that sleeps in bed with me.
No judgment please. He’s old and spoiled.
I relaxed the rest of the day, blogged, and enjoyed the remaining hours of my weekend.
I pray that your week goes well and that your focus stays on the eternal things of life.
Other times, the memories are bittersweet, laced with sorrow and angst.
Such is the case with October 10, 2018.
If you’re from the Florida Panhandle, this date sticks out in your mind too.
I was teaching high school back then, and we were going to resume classes after a long weekend.
However, a “cyclone” (we laughed when we heard this word used on the news) had been brewing in the Gulf, and it unexpectedly strengthened and made a turn for our area.
Now, let’s be clear on something. When you live on or near the coast, you are accustomed to storms. Most of the time, experienced locals barely bat an eye at even a Cat 3 hurricane. That’s not to say that they don’t prepare, but they aren’t usually overly worried.
Because of the incoming storm, we had that Tuesday off to put out sandbags and cover our windows and doors with plywood.
I was going to ride out the storm alone except for the company of my fur babies. The Mr. was in law enforcement and had to help out at the emergency operations center.
He called me very, very late the evening of the 9th with the mandate to either leave town immediately or to hunker down like nobody’s business. Word was that the hurricane was a very strong Cat 4, and it was still in open water. He gave me 30 minutes to make my decision.
I left, shortly before 1am, and drove almost four hours to, ironically enough, Auburn, where I now live.
I beat the storm by three hours.
It hit our town as a Cat 5 and completely destroyed it.
This was the view my neighbor had of my house during a lull in the storm.
She was one of the few who had cell service during and after the storm.
My neighborhood, along with every other in my town and the surrounding areas, was demolished.
Trees completely blocked off my street.
Here’s a before and after of the street that ran alongside my neighborhood. I used to go running on this street. Losing this beautiful view was emotionally devastating.
You never realize how much you rely on landmarks, such as buildings and natural landscaping, to navigate.
I often got lost in the days and weeks that followed Hurricane Michael because the streets looked completely different. Without cell service, I couldn’t call up maps or even call up a friend to help get me where I needed to go.
My house stayed upright. We lost our fence and our trees, though, and we discovered structural damage inside when an insurance inspector came to assess things.
Chicky came to visit me a week and a half after the storm passed through. We miraculously got power back while she was there, so we made margaritas!
I love that picture so much because it shows the state of my street, my own exhaustion, and the joy in the midst of both.
Post-hurricane, the Mr. put in twelve to sixteen hour days, leaving me at home to start cleaning up the mess. School was out indefinitely because every campus had been damaged, so I had plenty of time on my hands.
Our yard was filled with shingles, nails, and other debris. Everything was moved to the curb, set next to tree stumps and broken sidewalk pieces.
Our fence had to be removed – a hefty task that my 2025 post-surgery shoulders cannot even imagine.
All of these tasks were completed in between occasional outings to Walmart, where five people were being let in at a time to shop for only the most essential items. Payments were made in cash because we had no electricity to run cash registers and, thus, process credit card transactions.
Traffic was a nightmare. Streets were blocked by power company trucks (thank you!!!) and debris trucks cutting down tree branches and clearing them from the roads.
There was a FEMA tent not too far from my house, but it took me an hour to get there, and I had to leave after waiting in line several hours because our contractor was supposed to meet me at our house to discuss repairs. Meanwhile, on my way back home, traffic was diverted because President Trump was visiting our town (this was during his first term).
Patience and grace were words that were constantly on my lips.
Sunrises looked a lot different. The debris took a toll both physically and emotionally.
The sunsets were the joy of our lives each day.
Dare I say that the absence of the fences allowed for the most optimal view of the awe-inspiring sunsets that God blessed us with in the days that followed October 10th?
Without electricity, cable, or phone service, we had nothing to do but sit on our porches, visit with neighbors, and rest in the solicitude that replaced the worldly noise that had existed before.
It was a time of survival, where I woke up each day, scrounged for food, worked my behind off, and then collapsed in exhaustion.
The surreal feeling never left me in the days that followed.
The Mr. and I compared notes each evening about what had transpired that day and often bemoaned the fact that we’d never achieve our long-held dream of moving back to Auburn because nobody would want to buy a house that had been through a Cat 5 hurricane.
A month after the hurricane, our school district returned to class.
Things looked very different. Our high school shared space at a middle school while our campus was having mold and mildew being attended to. We ran class from 7-12, and the middle school held class from 1-5.
That was the room I taught in. Imagine almost thirty junior and senior students (many of them boys) in middle school desks. It was quite the experience!
My fellow teachers and admin were incredible. Trauma bonds people together in ways that are difficult to explain until you’ve walked down that path.
I’ll forever treasure the memories of us gathering together in the tiny middle school media center sharing food and tears. Many teachers lost their homes, had to temporarily move, and drove in each day from other coastal towns.
We were at the middle school from mid-November until late January. When we returned to our campus, most of the staff had to relocate their classrooms to portables that had been set up while their buildings were either razed or repaired.
I was fortunate that my classroom was in the main building, which didn’t have such damage.
Students trudged through mud back and forth to class. It was almost a half mile walk, so a lot of grace was extended with regard to tardiness.
The dress code went out the window. Many students had lost their homes and came to class wearing whatever they could find.
It was a crazy time.
It was during this post-hurricane season when I truly began to understand what anxiety was like. I saw it in my students – many of whom were inconsolable.
It took us almost two years to get our house repaired. We went through three contractors before we found one who was willing to jump through all of the red tape that our insurance company kept throwing at them.
The insurance company – nationally known with a slogan that I scoff at now – made our lives difficult. They were, initially, sympathetic, but they made it almost impossible to put our lives back together, which traumatized us further. Not all companies did this. Our neighbor had USAA, and he had no issues. Kudos to that company.
When we relocated to Alabama, we changed insurance companies expressly because of the way they had treated us in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael.
Things eventually returned to normal – or rather a new normal. The landscape had changed along with the people living there.
The Mr. did an amazing job overseeing the repair of our home, and it sold in a day and a half after listing it – ironically enough to a couple who had previously lived in our neighborhood but had relocated after their home had been destroyed in Hurricane Michael.
I can just imagine the smile on God’s face at the full circle we’d traveled.
It’s good to revisit these memories. They remind me of the journey – how God sees every event in my life and prepares me for each one – how He uses these experiences to shape me for the next set of circumstances.
God exists outside of time. He knew that storm was coming, but He also knew what lay ahead.
May your day be blessed as you remember good times and not-so-good ones.
Trust in our heavenly Father. He’s got us in the palms of His hand and will use everything to further His kingdom.
Hello friends! It’s kind of hard to believe that we are already a week into October. I have a feeling this season is going to fly by – especially after a rather slow summer.
Heck, each week seems to fly by, and I always sit in amazement on Sundays when Joyce posts her questions for her weekly Hodgepodge. I tend to write most of my week’s posts each Sunday afternoon after I’ve finished meal prepping for the week.
Anyhoo, enough with all of the intro stuff. Let’s get to my answers. Thanks, as always, for visiting and leaving your sweet comments.
1. ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’ How does this saying ring true in your own family, either the one you grew up in or the one you made?
Oh goodness, but as I mulled over this question, I couldn’t help but think that we are often products of our environment, which includes the families we grew up in, so it’s easy to select many ways in which the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
I’ll focus on the family God has allowed me to create through my marriage.
My daughter is incredibly organized – almost to the point of being a little OCD (she’s me to the nth degree). She researches the heck out of every aspect of her life, including (and especially) where it comes to childrearing. Shes also frugal and will drive over an hour away to snatch up a great deal from a seller on Facebook Marketplace.
My son has a quick wit, like my husband, and he’s interested in all things sports and politics-related. He’s very tender hearted and a wonderful provider for his family. He also bleeds orange and blue for our beloved Auburn Tigers.
2. Something you’re nuts about these days? How about something that’s driving you nuts?
I’m nuts about my word games these days – especially the Quartiles game.
I was fortunate to find all of the words three days in a row last week. The Mr. and I are very competitive.
What is driving me nuts right now is the way people are taking snippets of news items and using those out-of-context bits to fuel discord. people have gotten lazy. They refuse to think on their own, go back and look at context, and frame informed opinions.
I’ve seen this happen on all sides of all issues. I’m just so disheartened right now.
3. What does abundance mean to you?
Abundance means having more than what I need to subsist. I am so undeserving of the abundance of blessings God has showered upon me. This abundance leads me to an attitude of deep gratitude to the One who loves me and provides for me.
4. Caramel apple-caramel cake-caramel corn-caramel sundae-caramel macchiatto…what’s your caramel treat of choice?
Back in my non-vegan days, I’d take a caramel cake. When the Mr. and I started dating, and after we were married, we would eat lunch at his grandparents’ house. Mary worked for them. She cooked like nobody’s business. I loved her caramel cake, which she made with the thinnest layers that oozed with homemade caramel in between. She took great care in preparing one of these cakes each time we visited. I miss her so much.
5. What’s a childhood memory that always comes to mind as the leaves start to fall?
I always remember the smell of burning leaves during fall. We lived in the country and had to get rid of them. I love this smell to this day.
6. My Random Thought
It’s funny how something seemingly inconsequential makes you think deeply about a bigger thing in life.
October 1st was the day that Amazon officially started tightening its rules on shared access of Prime accounts.
My daughter has used our account for many years. She orders the most out of any of us, let me tell you.
Last month, we told her about the new family plan, and that she was going to have to get her own account. Each family plan will only allow for two adults living in the same household, and she was odd woman out. Lol.
So she did, and we got a message notifying us of that.
Y’all, it kind of made me sad. It was another of those mile markers reminding me of the passage of time.
I don’t care what she orders. I never got in her business and looked. But seeing her get her own family account just reminded me that she’s got her own wonderful little life, and I’m sitting up here getting older.
I’m a little in my feelings. I think this season does that to me. It’s hard to live halfway between my kiddos’ homes when all I want to do is wrap my arms around my babies, hold them in my lap again, and sing the worship songs I used to sing to them before I put them to bed each night.
Okay. As my friend, Barb, would say. You’ve had your five minutes to cry. Let’s move on now.
AuburnChick's Adventures 