A Hurricane Poem

"You never realize what you have until it's gone"...Do you know how many times that has played in my head?

I used to take so many things for granted.

Now I find myself hanging onto every moment of time.

I used to worry about everything.

Now I find myself without a worry in the world.

I used to rely on tomorrow.

Now I find that there may never be a tomorrow.

I saw my life as if it were just another material possession.

But you can't buy life.  You only get one.

You only get one chance to live.

You have to live in the moment.

Live like there's no tomorrow.

People say that they don't know what they'd do if they lost everything.

Well, all I can say about that is it's not that great, but it's not completely horrible either.

With losing everything, I've learned to accept things that I've never accepted before.

I've accepted change...something I never thought I would ever accept.

I've accepted death...the trees and wildlife are dead, and my house and memories are gone.

I've accepted life...I'm closer than ever before with my friends.

I've accepted loss...I've lost people that are extremely close to me, they've moved to other states and have new, better lives.

I've accepted it all.

You may think that nothing good will come out of this, but trust me, there is, and it's happening as we speak.

We've lost everything...but it's NOT the end of the world.  Be happy you're alive...see this as a chance to start over.  Maybe there's a chance now to rekindle old friendships.  Or maybe you've always wanted a better wardrobe...well, here's your chance.  I know you never pictured yourself in a million years going to a tent every night and picking up free meals, instead of going to that favorite restaurant of yours.  And now you find yourself digging through cardboard boxes, filled with clothes and simple necessities, which you NEVER imagined before.  And you're accepting things from people who you've never met before, and there's no way to pay them back, you're just so thankful for their graciousness.

And you never thought in a million years, that a hurricane, something that happens to us six months out of every year, would take away everything you've ever had.  Now I know you think about it every day.

There are moments when I'm on my way home and for a second I am convinced that I'll be walking through my front door, kicking my shoes off in the corner of the living room, and heading straight for the computer to go talk to my friends.

There are times when I'm driving down the road and for a moment it feels like it was before...a feeling that you would do anything for to feel once again.  A feeling of security, a feeling that nothing can be taken away from me and everything is fine.

There are places I go, and I remember great times that I've shared with friends and family.  Almost everywhere I go reminds me of something.  And I know it does the same for you...

Don't run from this...learn from this...

If you run, you're denying...

If you stay, you're accepting...

Yesterday is gone...but we still have the memories...