As many of you faithful readers realize, in my past work days, I have been right in the middle of some of the scenes that are similar to what is playing out on your televisions and various electronic gadgets. So when we saw the amount of devastation in not only our state of Florida but also Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and (possibly) South Carolina, we wanted to do our part to help in the relief efforts.
We had some extra unopened bottled water, some tangerines to be distributed as a quick vitamin C boost, and a few containers of saw oil (for those who will be cutting and clearing trees that may not have even been on their properties the week before). These things we can still do.
What I also found out was that I can no longer swing a chainsaw against a fallen oak tree in the middle of a hot summer day like I could just a decade ago. We have a couple from church who have helped us out innumerable times, and they took damage by way of two of their mighty oak trees coming apart. Midway through this neighborly assist task, I got more than winded, and COULD NOT regain my composure. I am at present giving thanks that (1), he lived close enough for me to call for help and have my wife come to the rescue and (2) his house not only still had power, but also had cold drinks with very-needed electrolytes mixed in!
A few years back, I went down the North Port (also here in Florida) and assisted a work crew putting the famous blue F.E.M.A. tarping on a residence. I had planned to stay down there for a few days, but after just one mission job, you could stick a fork in me (because I was DONE)!
The last time I got severely overheated was in the early 80s when I was running coast to coast in a truck with no A/C. I got heat sickness crossing Texas, and If there would not have been a “76” Truckstop to pull in to, it probably would have done me in.
Getting back to the present-day problems, it was a hit to my ego finding out that in as much as I wanted to be “out there” helping our community, the days of me cutting massive trees and climbing ladders with 40-pound tarp rolls have come and gone! The beauty of going through military service (and especially the airborne part) was that you learn to suck up your pride, regroup, and you move forward with a new plan.
Now, it may NOT be a good thing that I needed to take a crash course in reorganizing my skillsets, but it is a GOOD THING that the Good Lord has put me in a place where I can use my love of writing to take the place of physical favors, and continue to be of service to this community.
So, here it comes.
As I was watching the media-covered disaster happenings play out in real time, I saw a very short video “byte” that brought back some “instructive” memories. They showed a car that had been flooded with salt water, and was being towed away. When I was first getting into the civilian work force life, my dear old dad gave me a short life lesson. As we were on the road one day, he pointed to a car that had been in a submerged incident. He told me that when you go to buy a vehicle, make sure that you DO NOT go to unscrupulous used car dealerships after there has been a heavy flooding of a community close by. I kept that thought in the back of my mind, and then IT HAPPENED!
As I was on standby (outside of Lumberton, North Carolina) at a large gas station while hauling fuel oils for F.E.M.A., two “roll off” type recovery vehicles came on to the lot with cars that had been underwater due to Hurricane Florence. Both of these men pulled up to the vacuum stations, and commenced to suck the contaminated water from the floorboards and upholstery.
They may have made the outer furniture presentable, but all of the electric switches and metal window rail mechanical parts that were left alone, were a smaller disaster just waiting for an unsuspected “mark” to buy it!
So, let this be a small life lesson that you can tuck away in the back of your minds. If by chance you have a friend or relative looking to get a “real deal” on a used car, and it just so happened to be close to a community that flooded, remember what you read here. And just maybe this message will have that “community assistance” value that I have been wanting to do! Y’all be safe, be blessed, and if you have the chance, be a helpful citizen (if presented with situation that you can make a positive difference). Don’t let pride or peer pressure hold you back from doing the right thing!
