I remember the way the sounds of chainsaws permeating through the air told us something was wrong.
I remember walking down the road to see it unpassable, people just wandering in the streets.
I remember not being able to send a text or a call. Or a way to say “We ARE Okay”, when so many were not.
I remember a serpentine maze of roadways with trees hanging over, ready to crash at any moment.
I remember a sigh of relief when my family got out of town.
I remember missing my son the entire time he was gone, but glad he was able to sleep in comfort.
I remember the quiet, and how dark the house was at night. Stillness like never before.
I remember working harder than I ever had before for a week straight, just to give people a little sense of normalcy, and an ability to buy food for their families as the normal networks were down.
I remember almost quitting when corporate greed outweighed common sense.
I remember the companies who helped setting up mobile hotspots, or providing free food.
I remember the local volunteers doing what they could, when they could.
I remember the internet bill coming, while there was no internet.
I remember sitting in my car listening to Am radio for the first time in years for any news.
I remember being thankful I had an inflatable hot tub to flush the toilet with its water.
I remember eating what I could from the fridge before it all went bad.
I remember the cans of cold beans for dinner after.
I remember the tightness in my chest.
I remember just crying at a stop sign after a long day.
I remember the first time I traveled and saw the destruction.
I remember realizing for the first time how bad it all was.
I remember the sigh of relief every time a friend checked in.
I remember realizing that all of this stuff didn’t protect any of us.
I remember the day the power came back, and hearing people cheer.
I remember slowly finding our footing, hoping to be back to something normal.
I remember.
I remember.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget.