Senior Moments

Lily, Clem, Betsy, Bert and Matt. Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. September 19, 2008.

Yesterday we had a visit from son Bert, his girlfriend Clem, and her two children, Matt and Lily.  The four of them are refugees from Hurricane Ike and are currently staying in Chattanooga with Bert’s father.

Bert and Clem live in Galveston and work at Pointe West, a resort community on the western end of Galveston Island.  They know that their house is still standing, although it did get water on the first level.  Fortunately they had moved their most valuable possessions up to the second floor, so they feel that most of their things are safe for the time being.

But of course Galveston has no water, no electricity and no working sewer system.  People are not allowed to return for now, so Bert and Clem have no idea when they can go back to even check on their house.  It certainly doesn’t sound as if they will be able to live there any time soon.

Point West received relatively little damage, but they have no electricity.  Since Pointe West is at the extreme western end of the island they will be the very last to get electricity.  There is so much damage between the city of Galveston and Pointe West that Bert thinks it will be after the first of the year before electricity gets to Pointe West.

Bert and Clem have many decisions to make over the next few weeks and we certainly will have them in our prayers.  But yesterday we just enjoyed being with them.