Bucket List

Most people these days have a 'Bucket List'. But not many folks have a 'List' that consists of 'Natural Disasters'. 

It seems that one of my 'Lists' is just that! I've experienced: Blizzards, Dust Storm, Hurricane, Tornado (twice), Forest Fires, Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruption, Flooding (from Tropical Storm), and Drought (several times). I didn't choose to have such a 'List' but it appears that I am destined to have one - a 'Bucket List' of Natural Disasters. The latest additions to the 'List' are Mudslides and Flash Floods.

Two weeks ago we headed to Colorado Springs to get Hubby settled in at his new 'home' - an rv campground located in the foothills of Pikes Peak. Hubby had taken a new job in Colorado Springs and the rv was going to be his home for a bit. 

Sometimes things happen for a reason. We didn't know the reason a wire had come loose from the engine causing the rv to break down as we were leaving Denver. We thought it was just a bit of aggravation. It was a quick repair but the delay saved us from a lot of headaches down the road. Headaches we wouldn't know about for another two hours. 

A heavy rain shower took place in the foothills of Pikes Peak just as we were approaching Colorado Springs. This thunderstorm delivered a lot of rain in a very short amount of time over the burn scar from the Waldo Canyon fire which runs along Highway 24 out of Colo. Springs. Highway 24 runs along the bottom of the canyon which was formed by Fountain Creek. The Waldo Canyon fire took place in 2012 and devastated over 18, 245 acres.

Waldo Canyon Fire map

Because of the fire, there is no vegetation to hold the soil in a heavy rain. And the cloudburst which occurred while we were driving on the Interstate, caused a massive amount of mud and rocks to come down the hillsides and cover not only the road and strand many motorists but also caused damage to numerous homes and turned Fountain Creek into a black, muddy mess of churning flood waters. 

I had received an alert (Thanks to Nixle!) about the road closure. We managed to pull off the road (traffic was awful!) at a trailhead and park the rv. We decided to head into Manitou Springs for supper while we waited for the road to be cleared. We stopped at a Mexican place Hubby had heard good things about. But the restaurant was located on Fountain Creek and two large firetrucks were parked in their parking lot. As we approached the building, we overheard a fireman tell the manager that they needed to sandbag their deck by the creek in preparation for the next storm which was looming over the foothills. We decided to eat somewhere else. 

About an hour and a half later the road was re-opened. The trip up the canyon was interesting - the road was slick with mud residue and there were huge piles of mud and rock along the sides of the road. But at least we hadn't been caught in any of it. The Universe was looking out for us.

A week later (just a week ago), another heavy rain occurred in the same area. This time video footage was taken of the mudslide and flash flood, which were even worse than the ones from the week before. I heard on the news that it takes from 3-5 years for an area to stabilize after it has been ravaged by fire.

The first two videos (below) were taken on Highway 24 last week during the mud-flood. The last video was taken along Fountain Creek by someone walking his dog. Pay close attention at the beginning of the video and you will see the color of the water darken as the muddy water from up the canyon enters the creek. And the siren you hear later in the last video, is a Flash Flood siren. These sirens can be found in many of the steep, narrow canyons which dot the foothills of the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies. That ear piercing sound warns hikers and residents of impending floods.

And then there was the tornado on Pikes Peak this past Saturday....

image source

I think someone needs to check those HAARP settings......

The New Lodge

In April 2009, an EF3 tornado tore through the small town of Mena (I live about 5 miles outside of town and was spared any destruction). This tornado destroyed over 600 homes and numerous businesses, as well as severely damaging hundreds of other buildings. Read about it here.

But the town is well on the way to recovery. Various organizations have given of their time, energy and money to help rebuild what was lost. Read about it here.

The local Masonic Lodge was a total loss. There was a meeting of the Ladies Masonic Auxiliary (Order of Eastern Star) the night of the tornado. One member was killed.

But the Masonic members came together to rebuild. They purchased a vacant brick building which once housed the post office, gutted the interior and spent the next 15 months rebuilding their lodge.

The first meeting was held in the new Lodge on October 21, 2010. A very proud moment for the members because all the work done has been accomplished by volunteer labor. With the average age of the volunteer being 60+ years. The Lodge meeting room is the only room totally completed at this point with several other interior areas 90% finished. 

The Lodge was officially dedicated on November 20, 2010.  

And like a Phoenix, they have risen ........

And I would like to tell you of the man who spearheaded the rebuilding - my dear Hubby. He spent countless hours working on the building, on the phone getting bids for materials, organizing the work crew, and a multitude of other tasks. And has attended college full time through out the whole process. 

 He should be most proud of what he has accomplished! 

I know I am!

Generosity and Thoughtfulness From Afar

It's been over a month since the town I live in, Mena, Arkansas, was struck by an EF3 tornado. The devastation and destruction encompassed a large section of the town. One of the worst hit areas was around the Masonic Lodge.


My husband is an officer in this Lodge. He and our son-in-law (who was on vacation here at the time ~ Thank you so much Adam! {{BIG HUGS}} ) along with numerous other Lodge members spent the days following the disaster trying to salvage what they could from the wreckage. Unfortunately, the majority of the contents of the Lodge as well as the building were lost.


Some mementos were found and are now stored safely away awaiting the construction of the new building. And through the generosity of others ~ both Masonic and non ~ the members of Mena's Masonic Lodge will be able to furnish their new Lodge once it is built.


But one special donation has really stood out. It is an American Flag. It was sent by Staff Sergeant Kennedy who is currently stationed in Iraq.


This flag was flown over Forward Operating Base Cropper during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

THANK YOU Staff Sgt. Kennedy!

The generosity and thoughtfulness of this Soldier half a world away has touched many people here in this remote Arkansas town.



So please, take a moment, and thank a Soldier. They give so much of themselves and yet can still take the time to remember others.

Remember it's the Little Things in Life that matter.

Mena Tornado ~ Pt. 1, Pt 2, & Pt 3

Pt. 1 ~ This is the tornado that roared through our town on the night of Thursday, April 9, 2009. The tornado itself left a path of destruction 1/2 mile and 15 miles long. Wind damage extended another 1/2 mile on either side of the path. The latest count has 200 homes/buildings totally destroyed and another 800 homes/buildings receiving minor to moderate damage.

Pt. 2 ~ The outpouring of assistance from within the state of Arkansas along with numerous neighboring states has been incredible. The generosity and kindness of strangers and neighbors alike goes beyond words. My husband, a Masonic Officer, was helping unload supplies which had been collected by the Shriners in Little Rock, when a man drove up and ask if 'this was the location to donate clothes'. My husband said yes, that he would see that the clothes made it to the donation area. The stranger then went on to explain how he and his family had lost their house in the tornado, had salvaged what they could and wanted to donate as much as possible to others who had not been so lucky. The stranger left two large garbage sacks full of clothes for other victims.

Pt. 3 ~ A week has now gone by. Life is beginning to get back to normal (whatever that is...) for most. For too many though, the normalities of every day life are still far away. Please keep these people in your thoughts and prayers. And I would like to say THANK YOU to all the wonderful volunteers who have helped Mena in their time of need.

Special Note - Too often when a tragedy occurs, people don't know what to say to those affected. A few simple words are all it takes to brighten someone's day - Something as simple as, 'I'm thinking about you.' can mean the world to someone.

Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore....

On Thursday, April 9, 2009, an EF3 Tornado (with winds up to 165mph) swept through the small mountain community of Mena, Arkansas. I'm sure you have probably seen something about this on the news at some point in time in the past few days. I live in Mena Arkansas. And the pictures that have been presented to the public are only a mere inkling of the true devastation. It boggles the mind to see the destruction and to try and fathom the force that could cause it. My husband, Ed, and I rode out Hurricane Lili, which struck southern Louisiana in 2002. The devastation from that hurricane really doesn't even compare to what I have seen in the past few days.

My daughter Jenny, and two grand daughters had arrived only three hours before. We were all looking forward to a wonderful weekend visit. But, in a blink of an eye, our plans were changed. Fortunately Ed and I live out in the country and we were spared. My mother-in-law, who lives in town, was spared as well but the wind damage extended blocks past her house.

Ed is a Masonic Officer at the Lodge here in Mena. The last few days have been long and arduous for him. The majority of the Masonic members are well over the age of 65 and it fell upon the younger members to try and salvage what they could. Our son-in-law Adam, who arrived on Friday, immediately went to work helping sort through the rubble.




Ed and I have a lot to be thankful for ~ Our home, our lives, and for our families. And especially for Adam and Jenny, who gave us an enormous amount of moral (and physical) support through the first few days of this very trying time. Thank you! Ed and I are both so proud that you are our kids!!

Mena, population approx. 5500, has been hit hard by the recent economic downturn, hundreds and hundreds of people have been laid off (Ed being one of them). And the recent storm damage will not be easy for many. But this is a strong community and we will work together to sort through the pieces and rebuild.

Most of the town has electricity again as well as phone service. But we are without any internet service at my house and I must go into town and use a Wi-Fi connection at a local coffee shop, so I will only be posting when I can.

Please keep those so severely affected in your thoughts and prayers.