Most of you reading this probably put on clean clothes every morning and do laundry once a week or so.
We did laundry today for only the second time since Hurricane Irma six weeks ago.
We rinse T-shirts and underwear in captured rainwater almost daily. It is just not the same as actually washing in a washing machine. Thanks to St. Jeremy's generator, cistern, and giant washing machine we have clean clothes!
We both have clothes that are beyond salvation. I have a pair of shorts and a shirt that I've been wearing to work in since we cleaned up after Irma, then getting ready for Maria and pretty much every day since. I figure I'll wear them until they fall apart or this is over, whichever comes first. They are so bad they are not even allowed in the house. If they are still here when this is over, they go in the trash.
We got our first "care" package in the mail. Before I get into the contents of the package, I want to say categorically that it was sent with love and care and concern and we are truly grateful.
The care package contained "Food 4 Patriots," "a 72-hour food supply," "a long-term food survival solution created by Patriots for Patriots." (That let's us out.) Inside there are four packages, each of which make four servings of some kind of soup.
Just reading the package you would think you know who the target market is. but then we read the directions: "Bring five (5!) cups of water.to a boil. Add contents of package. boil 5 minutes then simmer for 25 minutes."
Honestly we had to laugh.Obviously this is not meant for survival situations where water isn't scarce and fuel is not at a premium. Here some people haven't had water for a month, since the night Maria hit. Some of the lucky ones - like us - had water for a while before losing it.
We bathe and wash dishes and rinse clothes in captured rain water. Whatever the water was used for, the grey water is saved and used to flush toilets. Many of the men are growing "Hurricane Beards because water is too precious to use for something as frivolous as shaving.
Five cups of water is a bath. Or someone's daily ration of drinking water.
Sending the Patriot food was truly and act of love and caring. We just can't help wondering if the "patriots" who make it have ever been in a true survival situation.
1 comment:
I am overcome. I cannot fathom what you, John, and Elaine are experiencing and continue to experience. I know you are filling in your blog from the journal you've kept handwritten since the hurricane hit, one day at a time. You told me in a handwritten letter it took nearly a month to get that your "device" is jury rigged and powered from your truck battery. I read each new entry with increasing incredulity and anger... at a thoughtless world and at my thoughtless self. We are here in Michigan, safe and sound with water and power and heat and every meal taken for granted. What can we do for you? That is the only issue: what can we do?
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