Mrs. H is a 70 year old widow who's house was severely damaged by the flood created by Hurricane Sandy. I met her last year after Hurricane Irene and had not seen her since. Last time her house was damaged but she had made repairs and had resumed her life. This time the damage is so bad that the house is collapsing and needs to be demolished. Mrs. H. has moved in with her daughter around the corner for now.
Earlier today the daughter came in to my office to find out what needed to happen before the house could be bull dozed. She is concerned because her mom has been sneaking back to the house, crawling over the debri and going inside just to lay on her bed. I can not even begin to tell you how dangerous the house is for her to be near it let alone inside of it. I agreed to go to the house and then stop by and speak to her mom.
I went to the house this afternoon and looked at the devastation. It was worse than I remembered. I knew I had to find a way to convince Mrs H that she needed to stay out. But, I also understood why she was doing it. She wanted to go "home." It is a house she bought with her husband 40 years ago. She raised her kids there. She still had everyone over on Sunday's for dinner. Her husband passed away several years ago but, she has maintained the house ever since. Standing outside the home I could see the kitchen. On the fridge was a family picture, a heart that said "World's Greatest Grandma" and a silver angel magnet. I grabbed my boots, my heard hat, and a flash light and proceeded to climb over the rubble that was once this poor woman's entire life. I took the things off the fridge and put them in my pocket. Looking back the house looked even worse and I knew that my going inside was not too smart. I slowly made my way back outside to safety. With the things I took in my pocket, I drove to the daughter's house.
I sat and talked to Mrs H for close to an hour. I listened as she told me why she went back. I let her tell me stories about the house and the memories she had of the life there. And I cried with her when she told me that she prayed that the house would fall on her and take her from this world. I have been told that I am very serious and all business at work. I wonder what people would have thought if they saw me there. As Mrs. H continued to tell me more, I handed her the items I brought for her. I told her that the angel watched over her while she was there but, now the angel was in her daughter's house and she needed to let the angel protect her there. She then told me about how the flood waters had actually washed a lot of her family pictures and the statue of the Virgin Mary all the way up the street to her daughter's driveway. I explained that if the Virgin Mary knew it was safer to move, then she should believe her. Mrs. H smiled and pondered that for awhile. I think she sees the sign.
As I left I gave Mrs. H a hug and made her promise me to stay out of the house. I told her I wanted to come hear more stories some time and she could be my adopted grandmother. I also made her promise not to tell my mom that since my mom is actually 2 years older than her.
I take my job seriously. I am to protect lives. Does not matter who it is. What they believe. What they have or do not have. They are all the same. Sometimes it means I have to step outside my immediate job, put down the hard had and the clip board and just listen.......
