Why It's Personal as Well as Wanting to Help

I used to run away to the Joisy shore. I love Sandy Hook, Red Bank, West Long Branch, Sea Bright. I met interesting people. I soothed my soul from terrible losses there.

So I am offering my three little blogs on the area here.

Red Bank I

Red Bank II

Red Bank III

And that will be the end of it for now. I am hoping that there will be a way for us all to figure out ways to help in the long-term. Federal, state, and local funding cannot possibly cover everything that will need to be re-built and re-bought for schools, community centers, mom and pop businesses and homes. 

I only wish I had the know-how to form an enormous nonprofit. One that would be able to raise a whole lot of money up front and then continue to receive donations over the next year at least. I wish I could convince the nightly national news show to, in another three months, give a weekly update on rebuilding the devastated areas of the five or six states with the WORST damage. I wish that such an organization could have the "text this number for an instant ten bucks donation."  An organization that could partner with various big stores that would give matching funds even for big gift cards that would be distributed to, oh, I don't know--schools and community organizations, or even individual families that are in long-term temporary houses.

I wish I had the money, the know how, the health to do something grand, but I don't. I am just Jeannette, living here in an apartment in the Land of Malls. I have my wonderful handful of readers who seem to find me even after I disappear for months. And my income is way below the poverty line--I'm just lucky because I sold my home and have some money in the bank. NO, I should not say that this is the only reason I am lucky. I am far luckier than that: so many dear friends both here, in person and now, out there in cyberspace, connections through my church community, a wonderful place to live in, and I am STILL walking, and I have GOOD healthcare through, yes, Medicare. I was without insurance for almost a year while I waited for disability. The ONLY insurance I could buy cost $1500/month, just for the premiums, and my out of pocket cost for appointments was $50.

So I am lucky. But how I wish I knew how to help beyond my small, small part. And I'll bet there are people all over who wish they could, too, just as we wanted to help with Katrina, with earthquakes on the other side of the world, with monsoons and hurricanes elsewhere. Now the USA needs help from all her citizens and anyone else.

And I do not know how to make more happen. I hope someone else WILL.

May you all be safe, have homes that remain in tact, and hug your loved ones REALLY close.  Oops! My phone rang and my son is coming over to use my shower. Well, I can help there, can't I...

Love to you all.

Shameless Plug to Help the Northeastern USA

Literally millions of families have been affected by Sandy. I don't know of any special relief efforts just yet, but I do know that The Red Cross needs donations, and will need blood donations as well. Because the damage is so severe and wide spread, blood drives in some populous areas are being canceled. There are shelters that are being set up throughout New Jersey and in New York City, and in areas of Connecticut along the shoreline that will be fairly long-term concerns. This has hit five or six states particularly harshly. There is a blizzard in West Virginia. Ohio and Pennsylvania have been hit hard.

So, yes, for whoever reads what I write, I am shamelessly plugging for Red Cross donations. And, if you've a mind to, perhaps you could just feature the link above on your own blogs. It is too soon to know how many homeless people were caught in this. When I think of the subway tunnels flooding, and the flooding UNDER highway overpasses, it gives me great pause. I do not think we know how many were killed yet.

I'm fine. This year, my part of the state made out fine. Some people have lost power, but, by and large, we have simply been inconvenienced. I need to find a way to be involved myself, in whatever capacity I can. As you all know, I've been trying to focus on my real life, away from this lovely world inside my head.

I've made great progress in building strength and have at long last started to drop some noticeable pounds. Every single part of my body is stronger. It is difficult for me to do this, but I am such a stubborn--I mean tenacious woman, that the moment there is some implication that this is the slow slide to the wheel chair, I rebel. And, yes, please sit down for this--I overdo it a bit sometimes.

Still, all in all? I am a very lucky woman, and we were very lucky to be spared the brunt of this storm. And it seems to me that I had ought to do my part as others did for MY area of the state last year, with the October blizzard.

That's it for now. Back to the real world with me. I hope you are all well and safe.

To friends up and down the East Coat, PA, OH, Canada, Vermont, NH

I wish you, your families, and your homes to remain undamaged.

May we weather this weather with no more casualties. And, if you pray, send energy, or just stay mindful sometimes-- do this for the homeless in our cities: Washington D.C, Baltimore, New York, New Haven, Bridgeport--so many; and all along the Maryland, Delaware, and Jersey shores, and along the shoreline cities on Long Island Sound.

I' sixty and have not seen anything like this up here. I am safe. I'm in a big apartment complex with fantastic landlords. My electricity and phones will go. SO WHAT? I will have a friend here and we'll be fine. Others need the focus.

Take care, one and all!