I received my local PBS feed today; the Frontline episode airing in my area tomorrow (May 1) is about the humanitarian and economic aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. @TIF has mentioned a few things about her situation, but has nevertheless managed to continue posting what to me, and, I am sure, to many others on CT, valuable and often very entertaining contributions. Here’s a small chance to “walk in @TIF’s moccasins,” trying to understand what most of Puerto Rico’s millions have experienced. Steve PS I’ve posted this in the Ancients forum as this is @TIF’s stomping grounds from what I can tell.
Thanks, Stevearino. I'm not in PR but close by-- Virgin Islands. In some ways the recovery is going much better and quicker than I had imagined but it is still a very rough road. Everything takes so long... I'm a big DIYer but some things I can't do myself, such as install the new and painfully expensive generator. I received the generator in November. Installation still isn't complete and of course I've been jacked around on the cost of installation, which is now up to $2200. It's just a 12kw propane standby generator!! Sheesh. My cistern just got cleaned so theoretically I can drink the water again but I'm still buying bottled water until I get it tested (not on city water-- all of my water is from rain). So many repairs to do, including fixing the hurricane shutters (still not done!). My place had mild structural damage and lots of water damage (flooded with muddy water, ruined ~half of my possessions-- fortunately my coins are okay). Hurricane season begins again in just over a month, although all of the big hurricanes down here have historically occurred in September. Only a tiny fraction of the massive number of damaged roofs have been definitively repaired. Most still have tarps nailed to them. Those won't last through a tropical storm, much less another hurricane. Puerto Rico's recovery lags far behind ours due to many factors but primarily because of the physical size of the island and the much much larger population.
TIF's a real trooper!.. i have the utmost respect and admiration for her. she champions any and all situations. she kept us informed before, during and, and soon as possible, after the storm. ancients wouldn't be the same without her!.
Wow @TIF - that's something to go through. Good luck on all of the repairs. Hope everything gets back to normal soon!
I could not imagine all the difficulies of going through something like a hurricane. I have been stressed with the quiting the old job and starting a new job. The move and all that goes with it and knowing I will be away from my family atleast until my wife is able to join me. Thinking more about it, its going to be a breeze by comparison.
Awesome strength and courage are a couple of traits that come to mind when thinking about @TIF 's encounter with the hurricane's devastation. I seriously thought the event would mark the end of her ancient coin collecting days. The fact that she's returned to the forum and is enthusiastically posting again is inspiring beyond words. Through all of that she maintained her sense of humor with the cool animated videos she's posted. I wear a rubber wristband that says survivor on it that was given to me by a friend in the Alcoholics Anonymous program to which I proudly belong. A lot of us wear them because we feel Blessed to have been saved from the self-destruction that our days of drinking were causing us. Anyway, the word SURVIVOR applies to anyone who has come away from and survived a potentially life destroying experience. TIF certainly qualifies for a SURVIVOR wristband.
I read TIF on TV and immediately started salivating thinking we were gonna get to see her INSANELY COOL coin collection in action. Hurricane, not so cool. But she has done an amazing job remaining positive and still being a wealth of help and knowledge for us all here. Ty TIF
Thanks, everyone . I'm just doing what I have to do, day by day. Wish things were different but this is the new reality, at least for the near-term.
@Deacon Ray, thanks for sharing. I’m a friend of Bill W. also. I am not reluctant to share that when someone might be helped by providing a contact person when life is going to hell in a hand basket from chemicals. Steve
Sorry I got your island home wrong, @TIF. What I got correct: 1. The struggle to overcome the hurricane devastation; 2. The wide-spread appreciation of your contributions to CT. Steve
The power of nature is just awesome ...houses can be repaired, glad you're ok. It's crazy that it has taken so long though. I missed that episode of Frontline. I'll have to catch it online.
