28 June, 2013

In Their Eyes

Bone marrow tired. A smell tattooed to the membrane of your memory. Smiles from gracious and suffering homeowners. Overwhelming pride of community. Kindness and giggles. 

I took the kids down to a flood zone yesterday. We walked the streets handing out fruit and cookies and a welcome ear to clean up crews and homeowners. The girls were wildly entertained by toilets on the street and friendly with the firefighters. They gagged at the smell of each pile filling someone's lawn. Each pile filled with drywall and insulation, not to mention the childrens' toys and books, the clothes, the treasures, the furniture, the lives of people lived. They giggled as their boots got stuck in the muck. They happily gave away their favourite cookies and told people they wanted to help because we were lucky. And they took these pictures (except the last few, those were mine).











(This is the girls' favourite restaurant, Wurst. The lower floor and kitchen were horribly flooded and we were entertained by the restoration company who told us about the complete pig they had to haul out that day.)








(Cable for a suspension bridge that was ripped down and almost washed away.)






Thank you so much for the response, already to the Just One Slab drive and the quilt donations.


15 comments:

KristyLou said...

wow.

elle said...

The piano did me in and I don't even play!

Valerie said...

Unbelievable :(

Karen said...

My heart goes out to the people affected by the floods. I sat and watched the CBC news reports and just couldn't believe it. Working on some baby quilts to send out there. Stay strong Alberta

Karen (in Victoria)

Unknown said...

Just over twelve months ago my country experienced the worst floods and fires that we have had in many years. It was so great to see the way everyone came together to help those affected. Those who couldn't help physically put their hand in their pocket and gave. Sometimes we become dissolutioned by events that are happening in society and then a tragedy like this happens and we all respond to help our fellow beings. Best wishes from Australia

Dawn said...

Devastation is hard to imagine and I know first hand that the pictures you shared are nothing compared to the parts you didn't share. As a child I witnessed the ravages of floods in Northern California that took entire towns down the rivers to the sea. The water left cars in trees and remains of houses miles from where they began. Thousands of people were left homeless and with no money or insurance to begin again. Bridges and telephone lines were destroyed and people were stranded for weeks without fresh water and food. Back then help was hard to find and transportation was difficult into the mountains. My heart goes out to all in your area affected by the floods.

Susan J Barker said...

Born and raised in Winnipeg and old enough to remember the floods before the 'ditch' was created to divert flood waters, but still some areas suffer when nature deems that it is time to flood her land. I am working on Slab blocks today! to send your way...

Deborah said...

My sewing machine is being serviced but I get it back on the 8th and hope to try some slab blocks from my strip stash.

Carolyn said...

Oh my goodness, I am sorry to see all the horrible damage from the floods there. It is terrible when your whole life is gone in seconds. I live in NJ, on the shore, and have seen flooding devastation first hand and hope that all will be able to rebuild where you live.

CitricSugar said...

These are heartbreaking photos. I wish there was more I could do.

Lee D said...

great pictures of your beloved Calgary. I am sewing and baking for a family just entering back into their home in High River.

Lysa said...

For those of us who know Calgary well (or not at all really) but are to far away be there person, thank you for giving us the slab project. It gives us a chance to feel we can do at least one small thing to help. I bet this will be a summer your girls will never forget.

Andy said...

Like elle, the piano got me too. Such moving photos. Thank you for sharing. It helps us all feel more compassion for those who are living through this.

Sandra said...

A year ago last May a small local community (Perth-Andover)here in New Brunswick Canada was completely devestated by terrible flooding. These photo's are reminisant of the aftermath of nature's fury.
Many quilt guilds across our province stepped up and provided quilts for people who had lost everything to the water invading their homes.
I am the incoming president of a small quilt guild and I have made it my first president's challenge for "my guild" to provide blocks for this slab project. Paying it forward is the least we can do. Blessings are sent to those affected and to those who are helping.

Brenda said...

Calgary, High River, anyone caught in this chaos has just been on my thoughts since this all began. Having had my basement flood a couple years ago, and the damage it did and the loss does not come even a smidgen close to what has happened to the whole south of this province. :(

You are in my thoughts - even if it did not hugely affect you, it has still made an impact and thank-you for the picutes. Being near Edmonton, I have not seen any of this personally. ((hugs))