It’s been a week since the devastation first hit our little piece of heaven in this corner of the world. Like many I sit in awe of the resilience of those in my community who have lost everything, but continue to keep pushing forward.  Now a week later, I sit in my home and listen as the rain which has so unwelcomely invited itself back into our lives… returns.  The stillness around me is eerie and I can only hear the pitter patter of the rain drops like the feet of an innocent toddler running about my yard and dancing on the roof of my home.

Usually, a day like today would be a perfect day for entering my fantasy world, and writing until my heart is content, but it is as if the characters in my head are aware that there are more pressing issues for me to address.  They sit quietly along with me  listening to rain, lamenting for those who lost their lives,  asking God to take care of those who the floods have ravaged, stolen their memories, and broken their spirits. So writing will have to hold for now, and the children at Saint Julianna’s have given me permission to leave them in freeze frame of chapter nine of my latest novel because South Carolina, my home, my love, my little piece of nirvana needs me more.

I have noticed as I grow older that my sense of obligation to those around me tugs at me strongly when something of this nature takes place in the world.  My first experience was September 11, 2001 better known to the world as 911. I was very young then, but I felt the desire to contribute or do something.  At the time, being a new mother, there wasn’t much I could do, but I remember finding  a legitimate charity on my dial-up internet ( at the time) and donating, just  to make sure  I helped at least one family in need.  That strong urge returned again during Hurricane Katrina, and along with some other nurses we helped those that were relocated to South Carolina with food and clothing as they arrived here in Columbia.

I originally came to Columbia to reinvent myself because of something that happened in my life that I thought was devastating.  I now humble myself because we should pray for the suffering of others and not ourselves, but that wisdom came with age.  This terrible flood that has ravaged South Carolina has brought back a sense of that obligation for me.  It took me many years to feel as if this part of South Carolina were my home, because although I was born and bred here, we tend to get comfortable with even the small towns that we were raised in. However, I now realize, while I thought I would be reinventing myself, God had an entirely different plan for my reinvention.

Although we are going through one of the most terrible and trying times of our lives as citizens of South Carolina, what I will say is that I would not want to be anywhere else in the entire world going through this.  As a South Carolinian, I proudly scream that regardless of our political differences, we love each other! We stick together, we help each other out, and those of us who are of the Christian faith are first and foremost Christians before we claim any affiliation with any political party.  Yes, this flood has put us in quite a state, but we are strong as a State, and we will survive this.

I thank God that my physical home has not suffered much from these floods, we noticed some small issue this morning, but there is devastation all around me and my heart aches all the same for those who have suffered true loss.  Thank you to our fellow Americans and those around the world who have stepped up to help us navigate the Chaos that the flood rains brought about. Thank you to my fellow citizens for loving and respecting one another.

Thank you to our Governor, mayor and other political leaders in our state, for knowing what true leadership is, and putting it into action that will produce results.  Thank you for keeping the politics at bay and unity on the forefront! Most of all thank you to the wonderful people of South Carolina for showing the world and setting an example once again as to how we should be there for one another and reminding everyone That…. WE ARE OUR BROTHER’S KEEPER!!!!

Be Blessed,