I am doing this update today for my sister, Karen, who has been flooded out of her home in Cedar Rapids. Many of you are asking about her, and here is what I know: on Thursday she left for work as there was a "no threat" watch for her area, flooding being about 6 blocks away and supposedly not expected to advance those six blocks.
Two hours later, she frantically tried to get home as the news was that the flooding was continuing and in the short distance she had to go, she could not get home as the area was under water that quickly. She was very upset as her two doggies were at home, but she managed to wave down a canoe that was traveling in the flooded areas to rescue pets...they were able to get her doggies out in time: she was so happy, as were they, to be reunited. She loves those dogs, so I think the other things kind of paled in comparison to the thought of losing them.
She does not know the extent of the damages as she is not allowed to go near the area. The earliest she thinks she can get into the area is Tuesday possibly, probably by boat. She is trying to be upbeat about it all...saying she was happy that she had not gotten all the landscaping done, not made the decision on putting in the new hardwood flooring, and the Menard's man called to say her new stove was in and that they would be happy to hold it for her in light of the circumstances.
She is staying with a friend, so she is fine with everything that way...just emotionally it is hard and she can't find out what happened to her neighbors and people she knows down in the historical area by the river where she lived. Everything is pretty much a "goner." I see the pictures and feel ill, so I can imagine how she is feeling inside.
It is not, however, just CR, in Iowa City the arts complex is all under various water depths, etc., Elkader is really pretty much under water, Independence, and on and on with so many smaller towns and some that may not recover at all...corn crops are gone...and on and on. Very sad to think of it all. I can't even imagine what a town does with that much mud and water...how does one get rid of that much mud and water?
The swim meet was just so/so...Matt ended up scratching at least one event a day as his shoulder was very sore. Coach Cindy gave him an "out" opt but he decided he wanted to stay the entire meet to cheer on his team, so he rode back with the team and they all got in around 11:00 p.m. He is now concentrating on getting it all packed up again and on the road to Arizona for the fancy pants camp/meet this week. I am sorta kinda maybe looking forward to not being a chauffeur and social secretary this week...you did not hear that here as I know I will miss it dearly when it is gone. A little break in the action will be nice, however.
And now, I have a new mystery book to read and plan on seeing this stormy night through, well at least the next couple of hours, with my book, my reading lamp, my stack of pillows, and my jammies...stormy nights are good for that sort of thing dontchathink?