Counting Blessings

Every few hours during the past two days, I have heard the police car and fire truck sirens in the distance.  Such is typically life in a big city.  Except in our neighborhood, it's not the norm.  We live far from the hustle and bustle of the skyscrapers and more densely populated areas.  We are surrounded by houses and trees.  On most nights it's fairly quiet, save the occasional crying baby, arguing couple, or tv blaring the news from a neighbor's apartment.

But the past two days have been far from typical.  During the past 48 hours, Hurricane Sandy devastated parts of our city and neighboring states.  Hearing the news of subways flooding and fires raging, hospitals being evacuated and shelters struggling to make ends meet, neighbors losing their homes and being killed by falling trees... it has all been a lot to take in.  It has been a reminder about how delicate life is.  We are surrounded by much sadness and grief.  And we are also surrounded by many, many blessings.    

I am so grateful that the damage from this event wasn't more severe or widespread.  That plans were made to keep people as safe as possible.  I am grateful that people heeded the warnings.  That folks are reaching out to their communities and finding ways to connect and help.  That generosity abounds.  That my family, friends and loved ones are okay.  That S and I, our kitties and our little one, had - and continue to have - a warm place to sleep, access to food and clean water, and the resources to stay safe and well.

The sirens continue to wail tonight.  I'm sending a little prayer out into the universe that we all find the strength and resources we need to recover.  That those who are most vulnerable - the poor, the queers, the elderly, the sick, the disabled, the immigrants - are cared for and treated with the respect they deserve as we all work to heal during this difficult time.