~ Simple, Truthful Answers Are Required ~

As I write this, I am still in bed. It is now 2:29 pm on Tuesday. I should be at work, but, I  wasn't feeling very well today, just like yesterday and the day before that.  I was able to talk with a very good friend last night first via text, then Face Book and finally Skype. Hearing his voice and seeing his face for the first time in several months was definitely a huge help to me. This is probably the only person in my life that has always been able to calm me not matter what or how bad the situation is/was. He still has that effect on me. Just by saying "Okay Trish.. talk to me, REALLY talk to me"... Nine times out of ten I can pour it all out, which was certainly the case last night!! Thank you.. I love you, you know who you are, I don't have to give names!

The stress that this flood has caused me and so many others is astronomical, there is no way, and no words  for me to accurately describe exactly how I feel about this situation. Again, it's not just about me, remember, there are 11,000 people in this same situation. I will tell you that tempers are starting to flare and peoples patience are slowly but surely running out! Mine included.

We are in DAY 23 of this flood. It has been 26 days since I have slept more than two hours per night.  I have been having chest pains, stomach issues, throwing up (I know that my ulcer is back and is protesting like crazy), lack of sleep, I am positive that my blood pressure is high. I am unable to concentrate on anything or on long conversations for extended periods of time.. my bosses have seen this for sure.. (great guys that they are, they tease me that I am just having a blond moment)!  I thought that I may be a little depressed.. ya think? But today, I found out that what I have, is called Emotional Fatigue/Exhaustion! Look it up on google.. I did. It's not pretty, but neither is this damn flood!! But at least I know, that I am not losing my mind, or going completely nuts, that there is indeed a reason for these symptoms! It's almost like a war, people see things that they probably shouldn't have/need to see, or should have to deal with, the effects of this flood will remain long after this situation is over and will be molded into all of our minds for years to come.   

The Flood of 2011 is Minot's war zone right now, we are fighting the battle of the Mouse River. To have such a simple name, this river has had an evil , raging force behind it. Minot and other areas watched intently as those river levels exceeded far above anything we thought was possible. It was like it (the river) had a mind of it's own. And for a while we thought we would be okay, little did we know, the hell we were all about to experience. Nothing can prepare you for this kind of devastation. 

Then, there's the.. please excuse this, "the cat and mouse game"  where we simply sit and wait to see what happens next. Again, as stated in others posts, the waiting is horrific!! Not knowing what we will have to face is complete torture. My "zone" is having a meeting Thursday night ,  I will be there. I am hoping that some of our city officials, will show the residents the respect that we deserve and come to this meeting.  I am also hoping that the Press will be there!!  We have questions and we want them answered, we're not asking for much, JUST SIMPLE, TRUTHFUL ANSWERS ARE REQUIRED!! Many neighborhoods are organizing these types of meetings and most neighborhoods are DEMANDING more information. I think it's time and it's our right to stand up and demand answers! This is OUR beautiful All American town and OUR homes and  we're not going to allow a river to claim our lives or destroy us, after all we ARE North Dakotans, there are no other people like us!! If we can handle -40 degrees in the winter, we can handle the Mouse. It's not going to be easy, but hey we're all going through Hell right now any way, we just have to continue the battle.  Again, JUST SIMPLE, TRUTHFUL ANSWERS ARE REQUIRED!!,

In closing, I don't proclaim to be an eloquent writer, just a girl needing to write for therapy. But, I do want to say to Minot and the surrounding areas, please try to stay strong, when you feel like you can't go on one more minute.. write a blog.. it helps, I promise!! Until the next time when I fall apart, thanks for reading!!

As Always~

Trish