From the Belly of Darkness there is Light.

Last Monday night, downtown New York City went dark.

We clung to our am radio waiting to hear when the storm surge would end, and if our family would need to escape from our west side cellar apt and into our neighbor's third-floor building.

We kept one bag each at the neighbors, in case we lost all everything from the storm surge.

I hand write my WIPs, and I made sure that was included.

My years of Artwork were left behind--and the rest, I didn't care so much for. My family was together and that was all I needed.

It was midnight before the radio informed us that the water was receding. I took an immense breath of relief and eventually went to sleep.

But, when we awoke the next morning to the news--no photographs, yet, my phone wouldn't hold a charge, and the Internet was impossible; my entire being gripped in fear for those still suffering.

My family wandered by day around downtown Manhattan, hunting and gathering food, and came home and cooked it. We were one of the lucky ones, we had a stove to cook with and water.

The days rolled into one. The first couple days the kids had friends over. We would make big oven cooked meals to warm the place and the adults drank wine to ease the night.

 My favorite, and greatest surprise, (but not really), were the people we met along the way, every day--with their giving nature and wanting to help in every possible way--that was beautiful, and heartwarming.

This gave me hope for our collective future--regardless of the outcome of the Elections around the corner. We had each other's backs! The wine helped me feel fuzzy, but the love gave me warmth.

Four days later, the light returned and the work began, and maybe, we could help others feel the same.

My family spent time delivering relief donations with our tween boys, and they got some valuable life experience—in taking nothing for granted. <<< That's what my twelve-year-old said. O.O 

They needed to be without electricity, so they could understand what’s most important in life: family, neighbors, and friends. Not Xbox.

We made many new friends! 

And together we can weather any storm, like the Nor'easter I just trampled through. Here we go again...

That's my lad in training. He begrudgingly came, but soon realized as with most things, it made him feel good to do so.