Day 12 of the Apocalypse, Ground Zero, Gerton, NC pop. 231

We had some HUGE wins yesterday! And y’all, I NEEDED some wins.

First, Blossman Gas, our propane delivery service, somehow by the grace of God found a way to get to our house to deliver propane. We were down to 15% in our tank by the time the propane arrived.

The night before I had a meltdown with Jeff, thinking that on top of everything else going on, we were also about to lose precious access to our whole house generator power for 2 hours each morning, and 3 hours each evening.

The meltdown went from crying and feeling sorry for myself, to getting frustrated at my husband for prioritizing helping, you know, our ENTIRE community instead of me (because Jeff spends 4-6 hours a day coordinating supplies), to feeling like I’m never going to be normal again.

Jeff, who is from New Orleans and lived through Katrina, calmly told me that I WILL never be the same again. That this once-in-1,000-year hurricane event will change the trajectory of my life forever. He said it with the same tone he uses when asking me to pass the salt.

The problem is that Jeff is always right.

I hugged Josh, the delivery man/rock star propane truck driver, hard. He said he had 14 more deliveries after ours, spanning 204 miles since so many roads are blocked. Josh works seven 12-hour days in a row right now, in order to keep on top of post-hurricane demand. He says that he’s getting lots of hugs from people like me, and he knows the work he’s doing is invaluable. Josh also said it’s hard for him to not get home in time to tuck his 3-year-old daughter into bed.

I asked Josh if he would fill our first-responder next-door neighbor’s tank, even though they are not Blossman customers, and add their propane to our bill.

He agreed!

This is especially significant because our internet signal bounces off of their house. In order to access the internet, both of our generators need to be running. So now we know that we can check things online, every morning and evening and that our good friends will be able to have power in their home, too.

With internet access, Jeff can continue to coordinate supplies being delivered from the outside, and I can work on our FEMA application, my Small Business Administration Economic Disaster Injury application (which is ridiculously long), and pay our Duke Energy bill, even though we haven’t had power for almost 2 weeks.

Jeff and I also hiked down the mountain and discovered that the road that connects our HOA road to the highway, which was a 30-foot-deep chasm a week ago, will be drivable by today for trucks and ATVs.

This road is a lifeline for everyone on our mountain, and it’s a big deal that we’re going to be able to get trucks up and down it.

While the road was being fixed, the Fire Department cut an ATV path alongside it, on our friends Patrick and Sharon’s properties. That path is a muddy, treacherous mess. At one point the ATVs have to drive sideways along a steep hill, and everyone in the ATV has to lean over to one side to keep it from tipping over. You also have to keep your shoulders and hands way inside the ATV so that branches don’t hit you.

Patrick has constant traffic right next to his house, impacting his wife, kids, and 3 golden retrievers. It will be good for his family to get some semblance of normalcy again.

The images below are of two sections of the road before reconstruction began. Yes, one whole section was overtaken by a creek with waterfalls.

Another win: a Baptist pastor gave me a compliment. His church is running a food truck in the parking lot of our Fire Department, serving hot meals daily from 11 am - 5 pm, for community members and first responders.

I’m used to being ignored by male Baptist pastors in Appalachia because a lot of them won’t acknowledge women as ministers. He complimented me on the prayer I gave at the community meeting, saying it was just what people needed to hear. This was huge for me, because I know with my accent and my presence I look and talk differently from most of the people I am ministering to.

David, the pastor, also reminded me of the importance of listening to God’s calling for you during times like this, when things may not go the way you expect them to.

David is right, and I’m so grateful that he blessed me with his ministry. I needed a reminder that I am in exactly the right place at this time, that this is all happening for me, and that I am in fact open and able to hear guidance about my next steps.

David’s ministry is for you, too, Friends.