A week ago, we were immersed in darkness and that strangely timeless time after the storm hit.  We ventured out into the daylight to see how our neighborhood had fared.

Some of the trees, really so few of them all things considered, were lying on their sides with their roots exposed.  How sad to reach down and touch them and bid them farewell.  Many of their tree neighbors, against all odds, still stood rooted firmly to their place in the neighborhood, firmly to their place in the park.  Spindly, teenage trees in Battery Park City, where the water rose so high, managed to hold on for dear life, and older more established trees with thick roots were blown to the ground.  It’s hard to understand why some fell and some did not.

Right now our internet speed is rivaling the days of dial-up, but I wanted to come here, for those who have emailed me and been worrying, to say that we kept our roots absolutely intact last week.  Never have I felt more part of this community of mine with so much love coming my family’s way.  Things, for us, are getting back to normal, but, as I hope you have heard, the same cannot be said for some families.

Downtown has mobilized now that we have the power back on, but another storm is on its way to the North East.  People need blankets, coats, scarves, gloves, hats, diapers, sanitary products, cleaning supplies, work gloves, baby wipes, tarps, and many more things to ensure they end up safe and well on the other side of this storm.  Please consider clicking over to this Amazon wish list for an easy way to help, no matter how far away you might be.  Even a small donation could make a gigantic difference in the lives of these displaced people.

On a much, much lighter note, this chicken soup I made early on Tuesday morning and kept on simmer for three days, was delicious, warm, and so comforting when our family needed comfort.  Bug hugs and kisses to you, Yummies.  New York, shine on!