TONIGHT'S TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF ANDREW IS SHARING THE LIMELIGHT

Hurricane Andrew hit south Florida on 8-24-1992; it was a very strong Category 5 storm system. He was responsible for destroying more than 28,000 homes and displacing more than a 250,000 people and killing fifteen.

We heard the news daily where we were living in Ormond Beach; the personal stories were horrific and broke your heart. At the time I was working in promotion and Hubby was self employed and our sons were very mature for their ages and trustworthy.
And so we decided to go once we were sure that our young men, at 16 and 20 were able to know that neighbors and we were only a phone call away. We all would have gone but at that time, school had already started, oh yes, this was September around Labor Day, less than ten days after…
And at the time we had two dogs a cat and a cockatiel, so they said alright go… PS we let them go down a few weeks later for a long weekend with a couple of good also responsible friends…For our younger son it was a good thing for his college future to know he cared and the idea that they so wanted to especially with all that we told them about daily and the pictures we showed them when we got home…
Here’s the pictures in order of our arrival in Homestead, Florida, ground zero:

In the Humana building not safe for people but Okay for animals.

I’m in the hat and Hubby was sporting a mustache in those days!

That's why since clothes are nixed for donations, give money instead!

We brought a couple of cots, coolers with our own food,even a porta pot with our Jeep and landscaping trailer. You see, we didn't want to be a part of the problem but we did want to help; so we came prepared. We delivered the two tons of dog food and several pallets of sunscreen! Compliments of the Greyhound Pet Association and Hawaiian Tropic!

Our wonderful military veterinarians that took care of the larger animals at the Crome location.

We were invited to eat with the military and did eat one meal with them in our week there, and that is how I learned all about MRE's, meals ready to eat, just add water or in some cases just open!
I thought that I would close tonight's homage to a horrendous happening in our state's history of storms...but before we left...

And since they came back quite wonderfully with a racetrack and even our youngest son has chosen to live and work there!

And so with all those memories that taught us about what truly was important in life, not things, but people... it was a real harsh test to know that you should value each other more than any toys you think you need...and that truly all the money in the world cannot stop any of this from happening and so live your lives to the fullest each and every day!
And tell your loved ones that you love them as often as you can.
That's all...
And here I sit with the news discussing another shooting this time a person laid off from his job killing his boss, near the Empire State Building in New York with a gun he purchased here in Florida years ago, he was killed by police but many were wounded during the action.
And on the lighter side, not too lighter side, but odd side ok just plain weird, the NRA will lay claim to this wild news story a seventy-something woman bludgeoned her husband to death with a coffee mug. Whoa, guns don't kill people; coffee mugs do? That to me, just proves that she must have been really, really angry! Not so funny...

Alright than allow me to be the first to wish you all a very happy good night and ask you to kindly count all your blessings and share those overages and we will too!

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear?

PS ISAAC IS COMING CLOSER AND HAS GOTTEN FASTER!
PSS I have over forty pictures of those days we went down to help after Andrew and it was quite difficult choosing.