Where 45 Ends
Page 16
It’s Monday, Ike came in Friday afternoon, and Saturday morning. It is a disaster! Today, amongst all the rubble, I watched the butterflies fly like they were dancing on air and haven’t a care. I knew it was God’s sign that everything will be fine. I had a peanut butter sandwich 2 days in a row. My belly wasn’t empty you know. Today I had a hand full of pecans and a Carmel or two and that is true.
Yesterday we picked up water, ice and military rations. That gave me another perspective, and made me realize a little more of what our soldier’s endure, to secure our freedom. I must stop to thank them (the soldier’s), the National Guard and the Salvation Army. Which I try to remember to do daily, did you know some of them are related to me as well as you! That is true! I’m so grateful, aren’t you grateful? For them, we are the reason why they get up, go on, and continue to try. Now we all have to look out for each other and lend a helping hand. Consider everyone a sister, or a brother, just remember the island lost a lot more than a little sand.
Some folks lost their homes as well as their land. The ocean came on shore crashing and bashing. Claiming part of this island as its own, stealing a lot of the sand. The wind with such force blew far, very far inland.
Now the aftermath of Ike has set in. Those of us still here are determined to stay, alive and well! As he shook his head in disbelief and shock, I heard Frank say “I’ve been here for over eighty years, it’s the worst I’ve ever seen.” His home was destroyed, everything blown away, washed away, broken and shattered. There is nothing left until you really look, then oh my, you see something’s special Ike never really took. Like his watch the Mermaid (Maelena) found (a Texas Long Horn 2005 National Championship) that was still ticking.
I realize here at 30th and Seawall, we are across the street. Only seven to nine blocks away from where Hooters, Murdock’s and the Balinese once stood. Now bits and pieces of them all have been blown into my front yard (the bars parking lot), along with trash and debris from all over the island. I realize it could have been me, nothing but history. I am blessed, I’m still here with the man I love. Thank the Lord, Amen!
Now I begin Tuesday, nothing has changed. I got my bowl, soap, glass, tooth brush, washcloth and water. I proceeded to take a bath as best I could. Thank God! I have all that to do. I’m not sure what I’ll eat today, but I know at 4:30 the Salvation Army will feed me! Last night I had rice and stew; it was my first warm meal in four days. Thank you Jesus!
I said nothing changed and that’s not true, there’s a wonderful north breeze, it is cool and feels like Fall is in the air. I’m not even missing the AC today. Once again, I feel God is making our journey more bearable. In my heart I know he is with us all. I believe in him. He will help us all get through yesterday, tomorrow and today! Think positive, be nice and polite, respectful, and don’t forget your manners. We are all in this together. It’s not just a select few that don’t have a clue. So don’t argue, join together. Together, we will figure it out and do what we have to do. To survive and rebuild what the storm took away.
For over twenty years I’ve never left for a storm. Now I’ve questioned myself, my reasons for staying, my safety, my sanity. The water was rising, the winds were getting stronger. For ten hours I didn’t look out, I stayed cocooned in one room; On the seawall on the east end of the Poop Deck. Hey duh, I know Crazy! Bonkers! No lie, I was scared!
Friday, September 12th, we waited for Ike at the deck, and then I closed at 4 pm. It was time for everyone to go and take care of their loved ones and themselves.
Saturday, September 13th, at 12 am, Ike was barreling down on Galveston Island. The apartment shook. Do you remember the motel beds that you put a quarter in, to make then vibrate. Well that night early into the morning, I slept in a 75 cent bed that was free and scary! It was vibrating and everything was shaking including my husband Dennis and me. Both the dog (Sweet Pea) and cat (Miss Kitty) seemed undisturbed. The animals must of known, they always do, that it was going to be alright. We all made it through the night, safe and dry.
A man just saw me through the window and offered me a plate of food. A full dinner he just got at 45th and Seawall, from the Salvation Army. He had two meals. I’m sure he carried them all that way for someone he loved and himself. I’m reminded again how blessed we are that people want to share! Also there are people that honestly care.
Its Wednesday September 17th now, last night Dave called just about dark and said they have water downtown, we could come get a shower. That was a kind offer we thank him. I heard Marci left and went to San Antonio; she caught her boyfriend smoking crack. Nothing to stay for after that, the house got flooded and there is nothing there, no reason to stay. Charlie came by last night; he said he sent his family onto San Antonio so his wife and kids had water, electric and food (She said it was a nightmare in San Antonio). There was Rape and stealing in the shelter! I don’t have to worry about Ruthie, she’s gone to her sisters up by Dallas (She’s ok!). Her home in La Marque flooded, until the back side of the hurricane came in, all the neighbors thought they made it. Then they got hit with the backside of Ike, in came the flood covering everything in mud.
It is 8.20 am on Wednesday we all have water again. It’s a trickle of water, but it is water out of the faucet. I got too excited too fast! The waters gone again! Oh the destruction and devastation that is out our front door. I must remember, we are blessed and I knew everything will come in time. And we are all lucky to be alive.
Elke explained how to make the M.R.E. (military ration’s) hot and ready to eat. I’m nearly blind because of MS and I just didn’t understand the directions well, because of my vision. The Salvation Army served cold spaghetti, a cookie and a bag of skittles (Wow, the skittles were good). I guess I wasn’t hungry enough yet, to eat the spaghetti cold and a dry cookie. I may be wishing I had before this is all over. And life resumes to normal. This (a hurricane) will teach you to take nothing for granted, and be thankful for the smallest of things.
I must admit, Glenda crossed my mind today, as well as yesterday. I hope and pray her and Ben are fine, Frankie too her cockatoo. I wonder about Linda and Linda Sue. if they are ok? I heard from Alois, Linda Marie and the Little Mexican, her Chihuahua are ok. She lost her cat in the flood. I still haven’t heard about Paul. Paulie and Dianna, they live downtown. Church St. I believe.
Just now the water came back, just a trickle. I did want to do the dirty dishes we have, not many mine. You and I wanted to change the sheets. I’m looking forward to a shower. I watered my plants and once again God talked to me. Telling me everything will be all right. There was a beautiful red hibiscus blossom in the last plant I could get water to and it is only the fifth or sixth day after the storm.
September 12th and September 13th 2008, Galveston Island and the Houston area were hit with a natural disaster. They lost power, water, homes, vehicles and so much more. Still we have reason to hope. Last night Hooters was giving away wings in front of the San Luis Hotel. Hot and Mild! Free! We were giving Bill and Elke a ride, and Bill just happened to see the Hooters truck in front of the Shriners Hall. Oh how that thrilled me. I don’t think I ever enjoyed wings as much as I did last night.
This afternoon Frank and the Mermaid came by, Frank was pushing the Mermaid in a wheel chair. We took them to the house to get the money out of the safe, it was still there. The rest of the things were gone. Like I have said before, still scattered in the yard are some clothes and a few things that are broken, some torn. Now! I’ve had a shower, it was wonderful. Cold, but wonderful.
It is Thursday, September 19th last night I ate green beans, chicken and fruit cocktail. I’ve been going through my photo albums just to take out pictures, for people that lost everything. They say that a picture say’s a thousand words.
Mickey stopped by today while walking his dog. He and Melisa are fine. Nykie and Kym brought me MRE’s and hugs. It was nice to see them. They got on the island because they knew a fireman. No one’s allowed on the island without credentials. Well wi
shes are felt from near and far.
The water is shut off again! Dawn said Cheryl’s cats,
are fine. They were at the house. Cheryl’s home survived! It is missing a few shingles, no biggie. Then Dawn went off to get a bottle of wine. Angie has gone to New Orleans to be with Thomas. April finally called back, she’s ok. I was on the phone with Ron when she called. Ron said he went to see a friend during the storm. His home in Pearland faired pretty good. He lost a deck I believe!
It’s the 20th Friday morning. I heard from Ray last night, he’s ok. He road Ike out on 55th with friends. The power trucks have been all over for two days now. Dennis keeps seeing Georgia plates on the electric trucks. Thank you! Thank you very much to everyone for helping us with our needs. I believe Dennis and I had angel’s watching over us and keeping us safe. As I write the names, there are more than a few that held us and kept us safe from harm. It was as if we were wrapped in their wings we got through the storm safe. Thanks to the angels that protested us.
Miss Ardella Marie, Our Lord, the 1st mate Ann, Mary Scott, Clean Corners Linda, Sherri, Tax man Johnny, Geno, (In the House) Diver Jeff, Jess, Sprinkler Steve, Boots, Grandma, JR, Uncle Matt, Uncle John, Uncle Bill, Aunt Naomi, Uncle Choppy the list goes on. I’m sure Mr. and Mrs. Creasy were there too, protecting their son Dennis. As well as their daughter in law Me, Marie!
It’s Friday the 20th of September. Dennis brought home warm chili and corn (A strange combination) but it was good. My belly is full. I thank God, again. His blessings are so often. We must not forget what as a child we just knew. God is with you! He has the whole world in his hands, and our journey is all God’s plan.
It’s Saturday the 21th, we took a ride last night, Oh my, what a disaster! Some of the roads are passable now and no longer wet. Homes of friends are destroyed, hollow. Dave, Shannon and Carol; Oh Lord help them recover. They lost everything! (FYI they did receive their insurance check but guess what it bounced!) Sometimes I do believe I’m still in hurricane shock.
The last two days I’ve seen something in the gulf that is now on shore. Dennis said it’s a chair upside down. No one is allowed on the south side of the Seawall. The police and beach patrol are keeping people off the beach, and off the rocks for their safety, as well as possible contamination.
ABC News interviewed me again last night. They did before the storm. Several people called the bar and told me to get out now! Leave the island! and did I know it was certain death for anyone who stayed on Galveston Island. It’s what I was told over and over again. I haven’t heard of anyone who lost their life yet, but I’m sure I will. This was a really bad storm. Dennis and I are blessed. The after math is questionable. I haven’t spent this much time with myself in forever. I’m ready to be among people again, eat real homemade food, play a juke box. Yeah, I’m ready!
Saturday, Saturday, Saturday. Sam, I haven’t heard from you since Tuesday. You were in the path of Ike, in Pasadena. My cousin Jeanine felt Ike in Fairfield TX and lost some shingles off her house. That’s more than a couple hour’s inland. You were only forty-five miles away. Sam! Are you ok???? Donella, are you and Rudy safe????. Last night on our ride, I saw plywood that said, “Take a hike Ike”. Well he didn’t, he skipped, hopped and jumped all over south-east Texas!! Now we all have the aftermath to deal with. Believe me that’s no myth, It’s the hard cold facts after a hurricane attacks!
Now it’s Sunday morning, Elke and Bill are coming to get me at 8am. We are going to breakfast at HEB (A real cup of coffee). Eight days into this hurricane, we’ve survived. Oh how it teaches you to take nothing for granted. The smallest things are appreciated so very much. No one showed up. I haven’t seen Elke, No coffee today (makes me sad). No breakfast, that’s ok, I had a peanut butter sandwich. Dennis bought fresh bread yesterday. I’m alright.
I thank the Lord because the sun was shining on me this morning for forty-five minutes, while I waited outside and it wasn’t too hot. EB and Allie, I’ve thought of both of you often. Are you ok? I’ll just hope I see you soon. Dennis just told me he did see EB. Elke and Bill brought us dinner tonight. They said there was no breakfast or coffee today at HEB. We heard Lurch was life flighted on a black hawk helicopter with fifty-nine other people and a lion (real lion) out of a church or school on Port Bolivar. They are all on a greyhound bus heading somewhere in Texas by San Antonio.
Its Monday, the 22nd of September. Benny brought coffee this morning—OH how wonderful!
It’s Tuesday morning, Benny brought coffee again, Yeah! I wish I could clean up our lot. I’m not walking well enough, or able to stand long enough to try and do something. Five years ago I could of had this all cleaned up. But due to MS, I’m frustrated, I want too, I’m just not able to. When we finally did start cleaning up the lot, a lady saw us as we were working and stopped to offer us a case of water. She said she had extra and wanted to share.
Tomorrow April and Angie will be back, yeah, company and help. I never knew days and nights could be so long. When everything is ok, they rush by so quickly.
I saw a man walk by today, he looked so sad. It was hard for him to walk; he was carrying a couple of plates of food. One for himself and the other one for someone he loves I assume. I’m a good eight or nine blocks away from the Salvation Army truck. So God bless him and I wish him luck. That is the second time a stranger offered me food since the storm, that I felt was for themselves and someone they loved.
I cried the other night while I sat in the truck, and listened to the people pray before they were served supper, dinner. I don’t remember which one it was. The love and kind gentle feeling I felt was over whelming as we prayed. Finally, I heard from Sam the 23rd. Wow the 24th Wednesday, Benny brought coffee again.
For more than a week before the storm, I planned a trip to Lake Charles, if possible I hope to go. A good meal and a hot shower sound’s so wonderful. So if (there’s that big little word) if April and Angie get back it’s on! We’re gone for a trip, an overnighter, just to see real life. Hurricane shock is all I can say. I need to get away. In order to open back up, the health department says we need electricity and we have to get rid of the debris. Now it’s nearly one year after hurricane Ike. We again, thank you, everyone. Galveston is grateful to all that helped us recover.
August 30th, 2009, two weeks before the one year anniversary of hurricane Ike. Our angel’s were here again protecting us. A tornado blew in on 29h and Seawall right outside our back door! It destroyed Dolphin World, our neighbors next door, the clothing and gift shop. It knocked a house off its blocks on the next street, Lord knows what else. All I can say is we just had another close call! Thank the Lord, after Ike last year and the tornado this year in 2009, we are still all four of us just fine.
Written By: The Poet E Marie Aldrich Creasy
The Songwriter Esther Marie
I was born in Rome, New York on Griffis Air Force Base.
I have two sisters, and three brothers. I’m a mother of two, and grandmother of four. I’m a woman now, no longer a little girl. I still feel like I’m not as good as I should be. I drink coffee in the morning and my mind wonders when the words start to rhyme. I sit and think, sometimes I write it down. Then capturing the moment even if no one is around. I share my writing with my musical co-writer’s Ron Thamm and Cowboy Ronnie. I’ve finished a second musical cd, as well as my second book. Now working on my third book of poetry and musical cd. I’ve tended bar for 30 years. I live on Galveston Island with my husband Dennis, and our pets. Sweet Peas the dog, and Miss Kitty the cat. We married in 2000 and had a fairytale wedding and are very happy together. I’m forty-eight years old and I live across the road from the beach since January 1986 and l love the life.
I hope you enjoy this book as well as I enjoyed writing it. Life is full of words and thoughts. I wanted to share mine with you.
Table of Contents
Cover
Where 45 Ends
Copyright
Contents
I DO HAVE SOMETHING
TO SAY
Dear Santa
Pool Hall
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Ten Minutes
No End
The Message
Devine Power
A Letter Home
All Turned Around
All the Time, Anytime
ALL THAT
3, 6, 9
TIME TAUGHT ME
A GIFT TO SHARE
A CROSS
AGING GRACEFULLY . . .
DREAMS
CHOSEN
Carryin’ On
BURIED TREASURE
BO BIRLEY
Big Ol Cat
DVD
FORGIVE YOURSELF
FUNNY HOW LIFE SPINS
GAZING OUT A WINDOW
Getting Older
I Haven’t A Clue
FIRST CLUE
DRIFTWOOD
JEFF
OUR DEAR LINDA
HEADED TO TEXAS
GOD’S CRYSTAL LIGHT
GIVE ME
HAVE YA’ EVER BEEN SCARED
I’M HAPPY
HE LOVES ME
Hey Ya’ll, Do You Know Paul
I-45 ENDS WHERE THE SUNRISE BEGINS
GETTING TOGETHER
BE CAREFUL
AUNT FLO
ANN
HE’S FAIR
HEY DUDE
LETS ROCK
TICK TOCK
THE RACE
UNTIL THE RACE IS WON
USE TO BE NUMBER 6
WERE READY
JOEY
Drivin’ That’A Way
BLESS NASCAR
GO FAST
Kayle
THE BUZZ
I’M FOUND
I ALWAYS LOVED YOU
I AM SO HAPPY