Off The Beaten Path

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Georgia, United States
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never ever the same.

Thursday, September 25

The End of an Era



I doubt if anyone ever thinks a lot about losing their home. Those kind of things happen to other people, so when it happens to you, it seems more like a bad dream than a reality. I knew that my home was in an area of Louisiana that often saw Hurricanes and Tornado's. But since the home had been standing since 1880 I figured it was fairly safe. Well on September 2nd the house was hit by a tornado that Hurricane Gustav dragged along with it up through the Central part of Louisiana. It hit about 8:20 in the evening, and luckily we weren't in the house, because the bedrooms were totally destroyed since they were on the side of the house that was hit full force. The large garage/shed out in the backyard was also totalled as were many of the 100 year old oaks.

The tornado took off the roof and all of the lumber underneath the roof, all that was left was the boards above the ceiling, and even a few of those were ripped off, and still others fell onto the beds. Then the rains came and it rained 24 inches during the night, soaking up the sheet rock on the ceiling which then fell into the rooms below. This happened on the whole left side of the house. Most of the ceiling fell in, all except for a short strip above the living room and kitchen.

The house was totalled. I am still in Louisiana, picking up the pieces. It is hard going through your possessions and sorting what can be saved, what gets sold and what gets tossed. I have pretty much gotten rid of anything that could be sold and I am now down to the salvation army items, and those for the trash. Once I am done I will board up the house, post no trespassing and then walk away. It is a very sad sight. The home was a landmark in Effie and many people are saddened by its loss.

3 comments:

Charlene Amsden said...

My heart aches for you. I know this home was your sanctuary. I am sorry you lost it.

Bill ~ {The Old Fart} said...

Like Quilly said Nea, sorry for the loss. You always spoke of this house as your escape. I hope you will find a new sanctuary that you can go to and be by yourself when you need to.

Neoma said...

Hi Quill and William, I should have long ago cleaned the house out and taken all of my personal possessions. The saddest part is I lost a lot of pictures that can not be replaced. Pictures on the walls. The rain did more damage to the inside than the tornado, but without a roof the rain came in as if there was no roof, which actually there wasn't. the house was my sactuary, but it was also my home. the house in Georgia is my husbands house, and I do not want to live there for the rest of my life. So I have to make plans eventually. I think I will build a cabin, a log cabin. I have always wantd to live in one. I am not used to a laptop, so forgi ve the misspelling....