We Are Not Dead

The girls and I went to San Antonio Thursday, even though I thought Ike would turn. My parents have a vacation home there and we rode up with my mom, brother, and sister, really just out of convenience. I mean, we figured the electricity could be out for, heck, possibly a couple days, so we might as well shoot up for the weekend. Jared bravely stayed behind well-supplied and ready to cover broken windows with plastic, rush flooding funiture to higher ground, and tie tarps on our house when the roof flew off. So basically on Thursday our thought process was, Jared: protect home at all costs, Christen: avoid discomfort. As I watched hurricane footage in San Antonio Friday night however, I began to feel somewhat concerned. (Even though I enjoyed watching Geraldo get hit by teeny pieces of random windblown debris and then hold up that giant chunk of asphalt: "This! This is what just HIT me!") But Jared was calm and collected, and as the eye wall approached and the storm really started to get bad, what did my Hercules of a husband do???

He went to sleep. Deep sleep. Like, my-dad-who-was-also-braving-the-storm-was-calling-him-all-through-the-night-and-he-never-answered-his-phone-that-was-right-by-his-head-because-he-was-sleeping-THAT-good sleep. And make no mistake, things were pummeling, flying, crashing, howling, and exploding.

That's my boy.

In the morning, after what was, I hope, a rejuvenating and restful night for him, he informed me that our wood fence was down and out, as well as the girls swingset. The way things were mangled in our backyard as well as several neighbors', it appears as though there was tornado that cut through our backyard. That's the second time in two different houses we had one hit us! I think that officially makes us the most interesting couple you know.

Anyhow, that was it, besides the amazing debris. I haven't even seen it yet and I'm amazed, it's that amazing. Just everywhere I hear. Jared and the Bakers down the street were like a little team and got a lot cleaned up together. (Thank you Dee Dee and family for keeping Jared sane. I can't believe I missed out on Catch Phrase!) There is still a tremendous amount of work left, especially around the city, but even after all this, Jared is going right back to work bright and early Monday morning. Such a hoss.

For the girls and I, on the other hand, it's been blue skies. Once we heard Daddy was A-OK on Saturday, we went to Sea World and have just been having a grand ol' time. Unfortunately, because of these three little girls, we probably won't be able to head home until the power is back on. I hear kids and declared disaster zones don't mesh.