I love these people!

Friday, March 27, 2009

I know I've been neglecting the Nest all week but, as usual, I have an excuse - I am a professional slacker, after all.

Funny has been in short supply with me because I am trying to vicariously battle a flood that is 1000 miles away. Since most of my family, as well as the all-time best BFF, live within spitting distance of the Red River of the North. In case you haven't been paying attention, it is currently at an all time EVER high of 22 feet above flood stage.


Thousands of hardy Mid-northerners have banded together to try to save Fargo-Moorhead from becoming the modern day Atlantis. They have closed 3 universities and pulled high schoolers out of class (like they would be hard to convince). People have come from far and wide to help. They build dikes and add sandbags and don't even have time to feel a bit safe before the National Weather Service raises the river level predictions. Yet again.
And have I mentioned that the temps are well below freezing?


They have evacuated some nursing homes, a hospital and whole neighborhoods. The mall is even closed today to keep people off the roads. Is it not a sign of dire circumstances when the shoe stores close?

Unless you live there or have a very good memory, you probably don't remember how devastated that same area was by flooding in 1997. The aforementioned BFF lost her house. Can you even imagine her anxiety at this point?
I feel very helpless. All I've been able to do is call my mother and repeatedly suggest that she take everything valuable or irreplacable out of the lower level of their home. She says she's not worried but her memory lapses suggest otherwise. Hopefully my dad will catch her before she moves everything back down the stairs because she can't remember why she brought them up in the first place. Luckily my younger-older brother is close by, not only to help my parents but to reassure his anxiety-clad sister.

They expect the river to crest tomorrow and stay there for 3 to 7 days. Hopefully, the dikes will hold and be high enough, and the sewers won't back up and the electricity running the sump pumps won't go out, and that (please, please NO!) it doesn't rain or snow any more. That's an awful lot to hope for, so if you all have any pull with the Big Person upstairs, or you have any spare karma to send, some positive energy with which to influence the universe or, for Marial, some virtual valium, I would really appreciate if you could direct it towards the 'Otas. They need all the help they can get.
Thank you and have a great weekend.
Peace, Love, Sandbags

22 comments:

Sultan said...

Wow. Very scary!

Diane said...

Fingers crossed, it'll all be OK.

Miss Thystle said...

Swinging chickens for your BFF!

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Good lord, thinking of you and fingers crossed, like Diane - so maybe I'll cross my legs for you too! xx

Liz Wilkey (a.k.a. A Mom on Spin) said...

Hope all goes well, and - no - I didn't know because I've been neglecting the news all week in favor of my blog.

My prayers are with your family. . .

Unknown said...

It truly is scary; I'll send some prayers that way.

~j said...

brings back(icky)memories of my No Dak days....i'll be praying for them.

Teacher Lady said...

Gee I have been so absorbed in what is happening in my neck of the woods, I have ignored the rest of the country. I hope all goes well for you and your family and friends.

gail said...

Already praying as one of my dear friends has family there. It is horrific.

Take care, Jane. Bless you, g

Kat said...

I pull out all of my old Catholic essentials - rosary beads, novenas, light ya some candles, you name it - I'm on it! Keep us updated!

Debbie said...

I've been following this on the news. Terrible.

Deedee said...

Hey Jane - Hope all is well with your loved ones. I noticed that the river came down a inch this morning. Maybe it won't be as bad as predicted. Best wishes!

Angie Ledbetter said...

Sending prayers and good thoughts your way. So familiar with the dread and fear associated with weather & flooding down here in Hurricane Alley.

Jan said...

I have been watching the news and I certainly feel for these people. I heard another storm is coming too. They really need a break!

ShanaM said...

Yeah, Thinking of everyone!!

Lorrie Veasey said...

Jane! O jane! i hope that what I think I read was true: that the river froze so much it could no longer rise. But i don't know if i REALLY read that or if I am imagining I read that. It was on TMZ after all, and the photos of Ashton kutcher can be..well, distracting, and o hell, I hope all is well.

Noanie said...

Saying prayers for your family and friends.
Peace

Domestic Goddess said...

Incredibly scary. Sending all the prayers, sandbags, and virtual valium I've got!

ps...what's it take to get on your blog list? Chocolate? Booze? Cash? I'm broke, so if its bribery, I'm screwed...but I suck up really well, oh Perfect One...*flutters eyelashes* Then again, you have teen daughters, sucking up probably just makes you really suspicious and has you checking your car for dents, your wallet for missing cash and credit cards. *sigh*

g said...

Hope there is good news....

Becca said...

I have a friend there, and am sending up big prayers!

MaDukes said...

I have been keeping up everyday with Fargo, had no idea your family and bff is there. I've been away so long from my space I forgot I exist.
I saw you visited Noanie earlier and I said "Hey no fair" -- then realized that I have been quite AWOL, therefore my own fault.
I am praying for things to go well for your family -- and since I always have to find a positive note - how gratifying to see how wonderful people can be to each other in times of trouble.
Take care Jane --
Deb

Suldog said...

Best of luck to you, and God bless. I hope the waters have not reached you!