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Monday, November 5, 2012

week forty four

This past week felt like the longest and most surreal in my life. I don't even know how to explain the different emotions I went through, mostly feeling with everybody who lost their homes, livelihoods or their lives. Monday night around 10pm we lost our power and went to bed early, the next morning we decided to take a walk around the neighborhood as we didn't have any power and wanted to pass the time. We live right on the border to Hoboken, NJ and I was shocked to see it flooded so badly. The third photo shows the street I normally walk or bike down every morning to catch my train to the city. 

Wednesday P and I drove to his office near the Jersey Shore to see if it sustained any damage. Everything was fine there but as in so many areas there was no power. In the afternoon we stopped by a friend who had gotten his power restored to warm up, he kindly let us hang out at his place on Thursday and Friday during the day as well. Thursday night friends who live only a block away invited us for dinner after seeing on Facebook that we were sitting in the cold and dark. The power of social media is really amazing in a situation like this! We have received so many words of encouragements, offers to stay with friends etc. Thank you all for your kind words and offers to stay with you! 

Friday night, after being without power for four days, shortly before Midnight power in our street had been restored, I can't say how happy I was when I heard our cable TV receiver turn on and also feeling guilty about it because so many were still in the dark and cold. My office in Chelsea was closed all week and today will be the first time I am going back to work. Not sure how crazy the traffic into New York will be and therefore will be trying to catch a very early bus...

If you want to help those in need after the hurricane please donate to the American Red Cross, Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund or any other organization to your liking. 


18 comments:

  1. Oh wow there is lot of water. I'm glad you got your power back. And I hope everyone else too will get it back soon.

    But that picture with candles looks really cozy.

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    1. It was actually pretty cozy with the candles but that got old after three nights ;)

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  2. Oh Nina. I thought about you and so many others, so often over the past days. I well know the feeling of being cut off and curious. Knowing just what is outside your own personal door. And then, THEN, stepping outside to see how very, very bad it is. Everywhere you look. So much sadness everywhere, and so much resilience too.

    For you, I'm glad the issue were mostly inconveniences (and I also well remember the jigs I've danced when the power came back on!), but my heart breaks for so many others. Holding you all in the light.

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    1. It is really heartbreaking to see what others are going through right now but it is great to see that people have not lost hope and are trying to rebuilt their lives step by step. I am grateful that the only thing we lost was power and tried to remind myself how lucky we were when I felt like complaining about our situation...

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  3. I'm really glad that y'all were alright and had such great friends who watched out for you. I hope the city gets back up and running soon and things go back to normal as quickly as possible

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    1. For me getting back to normalcy started today but the commute to work took forever but at least I have an office to go back to work to...

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  4. Ugh, what a horrible week that must have been. Thank goodness for the kindness of friends, eh? Don't feel guilty about getting power back on, really. You suffered, and you don't have to qualify it. Good luck with your commute back to work today. Stay dry and stay safe, too!

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    1. The power of friends is amazing. I really need to sent out some thanks you notes and gifts. Commute to work took 4.5 hours but on the way home it was only 1.5 which is pretty close to my usual 45 minutes. It can only get better...

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  5. wow, that street is amazingly flooded. and i would say that beer was probably well deserved! i am grateful that you now have power and hopefully that means they are just a little bit (or a lot) closer to getting everyones power restored!

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    1. I actually had lots of beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages the past couple of days ;) Hope that power for the remaining households will be restored soon.

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  6. Week 44 was a doozie. And week 45 is still looking like it's going to be rough. I can't believe the images I'm seeing of the shore. And seeing the lines for gas stations is just scary. I'm so glad you guys got power back. Hope we all get it back soon!

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    1. A big doozie! The images are unbelievable. A friend told me they found a piece of boardwalk in front of their house almost four blocks away from the beach. Crossing my fingers for everybody that is still without power that they will get it back soon!

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  7. Wow, Nina, what a week you had! The stories I keep reading about the outpouring of help and support is really heartwarming, and yours is no exception. Hope you were able to accept some of this help and find some comfort. Yay to having power!

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    1. I did accept offer to let us stay with friends at least during the day at night we returned to the cold house, always in the hope that power had been restored. It is unbelievable how dependent we are on power, that's something I have learned during the last week...

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  8. Wow! What a totally nuts week! We are so far removed from it this side of the world and the only news we seem to be getting is of the elections. That picture of the flooded street is so scary. So glad your power has come back on and hopefully your trip into work wasn’t too stressful! Keep us posted?

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    1. First trip to work was pretty stressful, as train service had not been restored and everybody lined up for buses. All in all it took me 4.5 hours to get to the office yesterday but today was much different because one train I can take to work is up and running again...

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  9. Glad you are okay! I've seen the pictures of NJ and it's so bad! Hope getting back to work went well, I've heard the traffic has been pretty awful.

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    1. Those pictures are heart breaking to see especially when I hear stories from friends/friends of friends/co-workers etc. that were in the middle of it all...Traffic yesterday was a mess but today it was already much better.

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