Seeing people in Wal-mart loading their cart with blankets and flashlights for survivors of the Henryville tornado makes my heart proud. Knowing that Tide is rolling in with portable washers/dryers? That ensures my laundry detergent will always remain the same. Seeing my Colts raise over $200k for southern Indiana storm victims in about an hour? That makes me love my team — and other fans — even more.
Perry (whose website is back up and should be your very next stop) posted today on The Missing Point reference the bullet dodged by residents of the Ville. So close to home, but still, I can’t begin to imagine how the folks living in the devastated small towns feel. Like most of you, I am touched by their suffering AND their determination.
My HMF (high maintenance friend for those playing along at home), and funeral director in both Crothersville and Henryville, Mark Adams, is still in the storm ravaged area. It goes without saying, he’s doing everything he can… and then some. (Check it out on WISH TV 8 VIDEO — ‘Henryville funeral home survives storm, offers comfort, more to town) As Internet service has yet to be restored in Henryville, Mark asked that I help by posting funeral service times of one lost on the Adams FH website that represents the Henryville community. The comment that followed the info posted was so touching…
In part, it said, “He died a true hero saving his beloved wife from the tornado coming through their house on March 2nd. I personally feel a great loss and humbled to have known and loved him.“
I took the top photo last spring (don’t ask me why I was outside with my camera and not inside in the bathtub), and I remember being so scared! We lost 2 trees. Seems pretty minor now. But the vivid memory of my fear then — and hearing about what others are going through now — sure serves as a reminder of just how fragile life really is.
Yesterday, as I looked at the beautiful blue March sky… and last night, as I photographed it painted in red, my thoughts were with those who lost so much just a few miles south of the Ville. But especially, my thoughts were of Angel, the toddler found alone in a field — her mother, father, sister and brother already claimed by the 2012 tornado in Pekin, IN — and of her Grandfather who was left behind.
