The term ‘An Unmade Bed’ can mean so many things. It can refer to a state of mind, the inside of a purse, one’s appearance, the condition of a room or house, a real bed on which the blankets and sheets have not been smoothed, and the pillows not in the proper place at the head of the mattress. An ‘unmade bed’ is something and someone in disarray. We are rarely completely at ease in the presence of that ‘unmade bad’. Its doable though. We lie down, burrow in the coziness of the familiar and drift off thinking we will fix it tomorrow.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy my beloved New York and her sister states, New Jersey, and Connecticut, have been left much like an unmade bed. This is not a bed that despite the rumpled sheets you can still straighten it out a minimal amount, lie down, rest your body and mind; still get a good nights sleep. No, this disorder does not allow one to rest. It settles in your heart and brands you with sadness. Nothing can be left until tomorrow.
We prepared for this hurricane, having been giving much warning by the meteorologists on television, radio, and internet. Many of us didn’t take it as seriously as we should have. Afterall this is not New Orleans, Mississippi, or even Florida. We don’t have life changing storms here. Yes, we did have Irene, but in week to ten days time life went back to normal for all but a few.
New Yorkers and Jerseyans don’t ask for help, we give help to those towns and neighborhoods that flood, burn, or experience tornadoes. Our national guard, redcross and volunteers go to places like Haiti to assist them with their tragedies and on and on. Benefit concerts are not staged for us. This time we are on the wrong side of the giving and receiving.
After we grieve and mourn the lives lost, the pets wrenched from us. After we get angry and rail against the fate that brought mother nature’s unrelenting power down upon our ears. After we shed those tears and view the devastation of Manhattan, Staten Island, Long Island and the Jersey Shore. After all that, we open our arms and hearts to those, our neighbors, for we are all family. Whether we live near or far.
Many of us were blessed with little or no damage. However, for so many, too many, their lives will never be the same. We will all come together. Do what we are able, whether that is to donate clothing, time, food, money, opening your home, or praying.
Together we will take the four corners of the sheet and remake this unmade bed so that it is even more beautiful and comfortable than before.
Life As I Remember It! 