The House that Built my daughters

I would like to say, thank you for reading my blog. I seriously never expected this many folks to send me private messages, letting me know that they have been reading and keeping up with this  incredibly painful, upsetting time in my life, and the lives of 11,000 other residents of Minot. Thank you all for your support, best wishes, prayers, text messages, FaceBook messages, phone calls, emails, cards and letters!! You will never know how much I appreciate ALL of it!!

Unfortunately, the reason I started this blog was to help me deal with this horrible "thing" (called a flood) in my own life!! While most people have been amazing, helping one another,  and taking the time to assist their neighbors, and to even help perfect strangers, there are some folks who should just go AWAY, or maybe just shut up!! I know people mean well, I really do appreciate that!! BUT don't tell me how to feel when I don't even know how I'm feeling. I haven't been in or seen my house in 30 days... yes... thirty days!!   Don't tell me WHO to hire to "fix" my house when you don't even know (nor do I) if my house is even able to be fixed.  Don't tell me to have a more positive attitude because you are friends with Minot's finest Mayor,  and that this is only a part time job for him.. he is really a banker.  WELL~ maybe, just maybe  he should stick to banking then!!  Because .. I 'm mad as hell, as many others are!!    And while I may only be one vote.. I  do have a voice right HERE, and besides, I AM a tax payer.. that should count for something!!! AND~ don't tell me that I  shouldn't have a "negative" attitude when you have no idea what I am going through!!  I know my attitude sucks sometimes.. but that's okay!!

The folks in Minot are going through a horrible time right now.  I asked a friend tonight as we were trying  so hard to find a way to my house and kept getting stopped by all the water, "Did you ever think you would see this kind of destruction in our beautiful town"? He replied simply.. "No, never". Nothing else needed to be said!  I saw friends tonight working on their houses, ripping out and piling all the debris on the curb for the garbage men to pick up!! You may think this is simply trash being placed on the curb, but it's not, this is their  private belongings, memories of a home. It's almost as IF you should look away. This is personal, this was their life!!  I saw a lady who was obviously seeing her home for the first time today. She had her face in her hands and was sobbing. I so wanted to stop my car and place my arms around her. But, this was a private moment. I didn't want to intrude, just like I don't others to intrude  when I see my house for the first time, I feel like I need someone with me, but it may not work out that way. So.. I'll have to deal with it!

Each day I see so much devastation, not to just the homes, but to the residents of Minot,  to their very soul. I  know I will never forget the anguish  I have seen on some of their faces.  Knowing there isn't anything I can do but just say "I am so sorry for you".  To see these lovely older homes destroyed, the homes that made it through the 1969 Flood with everyone bragging, "Hey my house made it through the '69 Flood," and  telling anyone that will listen,"Houses like ours just aren't made like this any more". Well, I am sad to say that the Flood of 2011 has claimed  many of these wonderful homes, and they will NEVER be the same.  My 101 year old house included, as I can ONLY imagine what I have yet  to face!! There is a home on 4th Ave that I have always loved. I love the shape of the house, it's so classic,. Then, a few years ago the owners painted it.  It truly is just beautiful, the lawn is gorgeous. It's my favorite house on the whole street!! The basement of this house has collapsed, the city has deemed it unsafe to enter. It broke my heart for the owners!!  How do we put a value on memories? We can't!!

So, please don't tell me that life will go on. I realize that life will definitely go on,  because it has to. But, it's like a death, and I am grieving right now. It's my right to do so, it's my right to cry, It's EVEN my right to be mad as hell, after all I am only human!!

There's a song by Miranda Lambert, that I sing in my band DREAMER. It's called "The House That Built Me". I always thought of my parents house in Mississippi  as the house that built ME . But I know that the house that has been destroyed, is "The House that Built my daughters". There is NO value that can be placed on this!! So please allow people to grieve right now, we HAVE to do this. Please keep your well meant comments to yourself, or at least think before you speak.  After all, we have had a terrible loss and eventually we will pick up the pieces.

Thank you for reading and allowing me to get on my soap box.  Until next time!! Minot stay strong!!

As Always~

Trish