Ike

I've received so many emails and messages from people concerning our experience during hurricane Ike. We are fine. We had a tree fall on our roof and as a result, some minor roof damage and we lost a 8-10 ft. chunk of our fence. We were lucky. We live in NW Houston, 78 miles from Galveston. Even though we are in one of the lesser hit areas, every yard has at least one tree uprooted, roof damage, windows blown out, water damage, etc. Photos from our yard:

My parents had a huge oak tree fall through the roof & attic near the side of their house, lost numerous trees, and windows blown out. They are near Burnett Bay (near Galveston Bay). They will most likely not have power for weeks. In Baytown, where they live, there are complete areas of devastation: flooding, collapsed roofs, trees through houses, no water, no power, etc. They stood in line for several hours yesterday to receive FEMA MREs, water, and ice. They did prepare with water & non-perishables, but that only lasts a short while. The destruction and damage is widespread. It's unbelievable. Entire coastal sections are so wiped out, they look like farmland.

A Too-Soon Loss

Many of you are aware that this summer has been a complete roller-coaster of emotion and activity for me. Within the past 90 days, I found out my birthfather died in a tragic accident shortly after my 2nd birthday, met my paternal birth-grandparents (and an uncle and a few aunts), and now, just a few short days ago, my birth-grandfather died of complications due to pneumonia.

It's both tragic and surreal. I feel like I'm walking in some sort of hazy dream or twilight zone. I am fortunate to have met him only 6 weeks prior to his death and that I did get to see him in the ICU before he died. I will attend the funeral. I don't know how to begin processing this loss--it's ridiculously complicated. I'm biological, but a relative stranger. I care for this family that I know very little about. I'm up and down. There is no guidebook for this, no precedent I can follow, and am forced to play everything by ear. I've sent a peace lily to my birth-grandmother, but as I was commenting to a friend, how strange is it that I am sending the plant, the condolence? In a normal family, when a close family member dies, you are the one who typically receives the cards/flowers. I didn't even know how to address the card, so I stuck with the safe "Porter Family" route. I'm at a loss and can't help feeling a little broken. I feel so fortunate to have had this experience, yet so turned upside down because of it.

At any rate, here is a photo of the only time my birth-grandfather, Raymond Porter Sr. and I were able to meet: