It's hard to believe that a week ago today we had no idea that our city would be flooded by Friday. Last Wednesday was just another day. Come Thursday the warnings started. The fear set in. The panic. Go home early and be with your family they said over the radio. The Emergency Alerts started to frequent over the radio and I'm sure the TV as well. Just being around that was enough to make you want to hide! Knowing how powerful Mother Nature really is sends chills down your spine!
I was fortunate. Blessed. Lucky. Grateful. That we lived on a big hill in the "Hood" of the city! Forest Lawn. Away from the river! I told my husband to get water in case they say ours will be contaminated. I picked up groceries on Wednesday so I didn't worry about that. Thursday night I honestly thought that Friday would be a normal day. I didn't think schools would be closed down and our downtown would be completely under water. I didn't think I wouldn't be able to get my dad over to watch them. I didn't think. I had to use a sick day to care for my kids. Filled our bathtub and watched the news. All Day! I don't watch the news. But. This was just surreal! Families being evacuated. Homes being washed away. Roads. Lives. Animals. Even one of our Hippos tried to escape.
This flood has changed our City forever! But I'm very happy to see how people are reacting! Stampede will go on, thousands of volunteers are helping gut basements of strangers homes, donating food, money and clothes to those in need. Opening up their homes so our evacuation centers are not overwhelmed! It's a beautiful thing! I have chosen not to listen to the complaining. The woes. Everyone is going through something right now! There's no point in comparing! We have a city to rebuild!
Because I wasn't affected at all my life goes on as if nothing happened. Work, kids, life! I donated a bunch of blankets, jackets, baby clothes and food to those in need! That's about all I can do! As much as I would love to volunteer my time to a stranger there really is no need! That's how amazing Calgary people are! Because so many are still unable to go back to work downtown they are helping clean up! People are even being turned away! Amazing! Can you feel the love? It's surrounding our city! Soon this will be just another story passed down to our families.
I keep saying 2013 is a year for Change! I can feel it in the air and in my bones! I'm changing again, my life is changing again, and my city is too!
I am proud to be Canadian and I am very proud to say I am a Calgarian!
Thank you to everyone who has given! You're generosity means the world!
