Monday, September 28, 2009

Rains of Ranchipur

While studying for her MBA several years ago , my sister Camille decided to go into the antique furniture business. To this end, she and her daughter Alyssa loaded her carport with their “finds”. Then, reality intervened. Camille got a real job, and Alyssa went to missionary college. The furniture is still under the carport. With the Atlanta Flooded Family (AFF) needing everything to resettle themselves, I had a deal for Camille. I’d pay for the truck if she’d donate the furniture. She can think of it, not as “parting with her stuff”, but as reclaiming her carport.

Camille is always up for a roadtrip. She and I decided to meet in Atlanta to give our gifts to the AFF. Alas, the Rains of Ranchipur revisited Georgia and Coker Creek. I couldn’t see twenty feet out my bedroom window. In order to get the donations to the AFF in Atlanta, I figured it was imperative that I be able to see where I’m going. Driving into the rain, down mountain roads with ninety-degree curves may not be the best idea. So I loaded the van for an early a.m. departure -- and took a long nap. When I awoke, Richard had taken photographs of the swollen creeks racing across our property. The insurance company can laugh, but I know that where there is white-out rain, there is the potential for waist-high water.

Charlie and Deborah donated a washing machine, some kitchen ware, and some of Deborah’s clothes. Since Deborah is one of the best-dressed females in Coker Creek, her donations are divine. Betty, at Coker Creek Consignment and Storage, offered a television set, but with all this digital signal business, I figured the family would only receive snow on an old TV. And they probably don’t need snow added to their rain. Betty did give me some coffee mugs for the cause. Others are waiting to see what comes in before going through their stored treasures.

I’ve heard from friends all over the United States offering to help. Some are sending clothing. Some are sending linens. Some are sending money. – Simply because we asked. My daddy used to have a favorite saying, “People are no damned good.” I haven’t found that to be true. I know that some people aren’t good. But, I find that if you ask people to help in the best way they can, most people are pretty darned good.

Like the Girl Scout song says, “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other’s gold.” They’re both precious.