Reality of the moment arrived on May 6 when it was time to empty our home into the world.  What would have been an overwhelming job was made possible because our home and our street just filled with volunteers.  Men moved heavy furniture to the front yard and ladies packed dishes, clothing, linens and glassware.  Each person was caring and comforting as we watched 43 years of memories moving out of their home.  We will be forever grateful to these angels of mercy who fluttered in so unselfishly for 3 days.  And, this was the scene in over 25 homes on our street.
Eighteen inches of river grundge flowed into our home and filled our piano "born" in 1936!  Roxie has memories of childhood piano practice at 6:00 AM in her Jackson, TN home.  Roxie's folks played and sang to her beautiful sounds. Our son began his piano lessons on this upright Kimball.  Loosing this bit of life was hard to bear.  So, it became imparative to have the final benediction pronounced by a piano tuner.  It would cost over $5000 to have her mended with no guarantees. 

The painful decision was made to have her carted to the street for the sanitation department's knuckle boom jaws.  She escaped that Saturday evening.  By noon on Sunday one of the gentlemen who had carted her to the street arrived to say he was sleep deprived over the decision to let her go.  He had decided to attempt to save her.  He returned with a trailer and neighbors to give her a home in his garage.  Then he E mailed that "she made it" just fine. 

This perfect stranger had come to help and continued his angel of mercy venture by "adopting" our musical treasure.  If she never plays a note she will be in our home again standing tall and proud of her history.




May 10, 2010 the destroy team of our hired company arrived with crowbars, shovels and picks to take apart our completely covered hardwood flood, cabinets, door facings, paneling and half of our dry walls.  Looking straight through the house was a glimpse of how Roxie first saw it in 1967 when it was under construction.  We are her only family.  Our company brought in fans and heaters to dry her out.  Yesterday they "bombed" her to rid her of any contaminents.  We were onsight all day.



We have barley begun the rebuild phase which will take a long time.  There will be meetings to interview contractors, select appliances, flooring, wall treatments and on and on.  We did register with FEMA and received assistance money for housing.  Our flood insurance adjuster has completed his work and we are reviewing his recommentations.  We feel they will be generous.

Please remember that when we do not answer your welcomed E mails that we are lifted by them and know you are right here with us.  We are very busy with the above decisions as well as sifting and sorting many things in the backyard.  It is amazing what a flood can bring into your yard.