when hurricane sandy hit last year, i was without power, heat, hot water, and cell service for a week - and i had one of the best case scenarios. the damage to the rockaways, staten island, and other parts of the east coast were devastating. people lost friends and family members, houses, belongings. below 25th street was completely dark for a week - we kept joking that it looked like a zombie apocalypse. we're all still recovering.
but the amazing thing that came from sandy was the sense of community. my friend kat was visiting from LA at the time, and we were taken in to friend's hotel rooms and apartments in brooklyn without question. we shared cabs with strangers, were grateful for the shop owners, restaurant workers, cab drivers, and everyone else who was still working to help provide goods and services for everyone affected even though they too were affected.
there are a million things you think you've planned for, but you can't predict how a storm is going to affect you or your neighborhood. you don't think that it's going to be so bad you're going to have to throw out everything in your refrigerator because you're not going to have power for a week. you can't predict the following cold front that would make your apartment unlivable without the building's heat. you don't know that the people you love you can't contact you because you don't have cell service, and even still you're trying to preserve your phone battery because there is no electricity to recharge it. you can't shower. and when you're hungry, you have to figure out a way to get food since no stores are open in your neighborhood, the subways aren't running, and there are no cabs. so you assess the damage and try and make a plan to move forward.
on the third day without power, i completely lost my shit on an employee of a restaurant above 25th street for only taking cash. "WHERE WAS I SUPPOSED TO FIND CASH" I screamed. "THERE ARE NO WORKING ATMS." he just stared at me, and asked if i still wanted the burger. i realized i might need to change my attitude, i was just hangry (angry because i was hungry). i later apologized to him when i found some cash, and also apologized to kat for screaming at her that THEY WERE ONLY EFFING TAKING EFFING CASH as she silently handed me a $20. it wasn't his fault. it wasn't her fault. he was just trying to get me a burger. she knew i needed food. everyone reacts differently.
for today's challenge, i donated to the red cross to help those affected tornados in oklahoma. my heart goes out to everyone affected by the tragedy.
if you would like to help, the link to the donation website is below or you can text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
http://www.redcross.org/charitable-donations
day 18 - complete.
xoxo
meags
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