Choices

The wildlife and fauna around my house took a beating under Hurricane Katrina. I found the bodies of the squirrel family that used to live in my oak while raking up debris in my yard. I had to get my son to finish that section. I will miss the little things, especially the one that would fuss at me when I would go and grill underneath the oak tree. The cardinals who nested in the oak tree in the back yard are ok. I can hear them but have yet to see them. My neighbor has some renters. They have a cat which they abandoned. My neighbor is in no position to take care of this cat. So I find myself having to chase this cat off when he fights with my two male cats and when they are in the house, go out and feed him. The plants in my yard suffered a lot but are coming back, The crepe myrtle bushes are even beginning to bloom again.

Firebush/butterfly taken at the end of July

Firebush today. Butterflies are still coming around.

Even though my house suffered only very minor damage, I have some hard choices coming up. You see, since it had light damage, I don't qualify for FEMA aid. The only thing I qualify for is Major Disaster Unemployment and let me tell you it does not begin to cover things like house notes.

These are my options. The first is to find a job or two as soon as possible, which is going to be very interesting because as of this moment there are approximately 15,000 others on the Mississippi Coast that are without jobs.

The second is to take in a boarder, which I don't really want to do. I love my home and unless it is a close friend or relative, I can't see myself going that route.

The third option is to find a job somewhere in the Southeast for a year and rent my house during that time.

The fourth option is to sell my house and move out of the state. This is something that would break my heart. I love it down here and really cannot imagine living any where else. A cousin in Denver suggested I come up there. But you know he said it was 55 degrees this past weekend and that is just too cold for this warm-blooded person. Actually anything below 60 degrees would be too cold.

I know things will work out somehow. They always do. I am just a little discouraged right now.

UPDATE: Sorry about the above post. The numbness of the past two weeks is beginning to wear off and at times I can't see things very clearly. I have to go into work tomorrow and plus check into a couple of jobs. So wish me luck on the job front especially the secretary one! I have worked out a couple of other things I can do regarding my house such as refinancing to get the note lower. I am sure I can get it done. So things are not as bleak as they seemed 3 hours ago. These emotions of anger, despair, and hopefulness come and go. So bear with me.

UPDATE: 9/13/05 To the commentors who left the suggestion about the tip jar on my site, you have lifted my spirits a great deal. Your generosity overwhelms me but it is premature to do so. I do have some money put aside for my son's college and have enough for the house note for about 4 months. I make a promise to you, if in that time I have not been able to find a job, I will put up a tip jar. Plus my dear son is probably going to be able to go to work at his Dad's company. He offered to help out with the full amount of any paychecks he would receive. It made me cry when he said that. I told him I would need some help but not all of what he makes, probably not even half. He has really begun to mature since the storm hit and does not give me hardly any grief when things need to be done around the house. He made the decision to wait a year before going to college when he graduated in May.

Things overwhelm me at times and yesterday evening, it all seemed bleaker than usual.