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Hurricane Maria – Better Days + Island Family

What a difference a day or two can make.  I had the best day ever since the hurricanes hit.  Despite long laborious days at the farm, getting our car stuck in knee deep water and ugly weather, these past couple days have made me feel more like myself again.  We spent the night with friends and since they have a generator, we were able to do simple things like wash our hands right from the sink to watching a movie together at the end of the night.  It was almost like everything was pre-Maria.  It did so much for my morale.  At the end of the night, the generator was turned off and the mosquitoes were about with full force but knowing that I was surrounded by love, with a belly full of home cooked food and new energy to immerse in was more than enough.

My husband recruited some of our friends in his “save the farm” endeavor and it’s been incredible to watch them climb the tall limbs and lend our energy to a place that is so dear to our friend and know that all our efforts will see to it that sweet fruit returns.  So far, the only casualty has been all of the atemoya trees but we are hopeful that everything else can be saved in due time.  It’s normal that me and my husband can typically be found at the beach with any and all free time we have.  We also love to hike and explore our little rock.  Needless to say, there hasn’t been much of that around here for awhile.  As I sat to take a rest and watch the guys work, it shocked me to realize that this was the first time I’d exclusively dedicated to spending time in nature in a very, very long time – unprecedented in our almost two years time here.  As I sat there, I shifted my gaze to the mountain and sea backdrop and listened to buzz of the bees and grass flickering in the wind and I felt at peace.  This is what made me fall in love with St. Croix in the first place.  It was not dead.

As I collected storm fruit, I passed my once favorite canopy, now completely disheveled and misplaced.  It was a spot I had often tucked into after a long day at the farm for a cool reprieve.  It was just gone.  It made me incredibly sad but I went on my way to fill my buckets for fruit to deliver to the shelter.  As I made my way to the mango trees, I discovered that all of the mango had been eaten by the horses that had made themselves at home after Irma.  Just as I was about to give up, I spotted a golden egg and with much gratitude {which began to soften the blow about my destroyed canopy} I received the gift of Gaia and savored the candy sweet juice.

Things are getting better day by day.  I’m not feeling so lost today.  Just tonight, we were driving behind a military vehicle filled with uniformed men and women delivering a truck full of supplies.  Not 10 minutes ago, I watched a military plane coming in overhead filled with more.  J has been an incredible rock throughout all of this.  He was as cool as a cucumber when the doors flew out and calmly picked up all 5 dogs to safety, has helped our friends and neighbors without a moments hesitation, allowed me to flood his arms with tears and never ever doubted that our island would rise and rise stronger.  When we got Josie {J’s truck} stuck today, a wonderful Crucian volunteered to help.  He got us to where we needed to go and our friends helped to get her back up and running.  These same friends have lent us their generator after finding out just yesterday that we were without one.  I am completely floored.  ISLAND FAMILY.  ISLAND STRONG.

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3 thoughts on “Hurricane Maria – Better Days + Island Family

  • Joan Szatkowski says:

    hi Angela! It was nice meeting you guys at the Courtyard on Saturday. I hope things get better for you both, and for the island as well. Keep the faith, and keep your spirits up. The island needs more people like you!!!! xoxoxo Joan

  • The Squishy Monster says:

    Thank you so much for reaching out, Joan. You have great spirit and energy and I’m glad we got to meet! Much love!

  • Joan Szatkowski says:

    You are most welcome and I am glad we got to meet as well.
    If you are able to view my email address, please send me an email so I can send you a private message that won’t show up on your blog.

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