You Matter. They Matter. We Matter.

Next Thursday will 6 months since the tornado hit us. Half a year! I was speaking with someone last week who put it beautifully. He said, "For all of us life goes on, but for you, you're still living it." Exactly. Even though work is progressing, it's almost like being in a life warp more than a time warp. Sometimes, when I see someone in the neighbourhood where we're currently living, they're surprised we're shopping so far away from our home and when I tell them we're in temporary housing due to the tornado, they're taken aback because it's so long ago and how could we possibly still be out of our home? Others immediately remark at how horrible contractors are and how they "take their sweet time". Well ours does not fit that category. They are working diligently to get us back in. The outside work will happen once the snow is gone but at least at a point where we can move in and live there. I've been watching the tile ma...

Five months post tornado, on my daily drive to the house, I check to look for progress as I turn the corners into the tornado stricken area. A new roof here, finally new windows replacing the wood-covered gaps in that house on the corner there, and pods popping up in front of homes that were left way too long for the repairs to begin, showing some positive changes. The starkness and brightness where there was shade and towering trees, still hits me hard. I can't get used to having to shade my eyes from the glaring sun.  Parking and getting out of the car, especially very early in the morning or on a weekend when the trades aren't working away, I listen for familiar sounds. I heard my first bird the other day. Usually, by this time of year, we would hear a chorus of birds. Now, there was only one. There aren't trees and bushes for them to nest and live in right now. I hope they find their way back once trees are planted in the area. When I stand still, mostly what I h...