-----Original Message----- Date: Thursday, September 16, 1999 5:50 PM Subject: (no subject) >WINDS OF KINDNESS > > This hurricane evacuation has been one of the most horrible >experiences of my adult life. > 500,000 to 1,000,000 automobiles, trucks, boats, motor homes and >campers, all in a line, on every street, road, and highway and all headed >West out of harm's way. The 178 mile per hours winds of death were blowing >at our backs -- looking to suck up and destroy everything we have worked so >hard to accomplish, not to mention all that we hold dear to our hearts. > As I traveled down Highway 82 from our home in Brunswick, Georgia, to >Waycross, with my wife, son, daughter-in-law, friend, six dogs, three cats, >all packed into three small automobiles -- none of us realized that only an >hour down the road an even bigger, faster, larger wind lay before us. > Traffic was so backed up that we never traveled more than six miles >per hour nor did we ever move forward move than 500 feet without having to >stop. I reached over and turned on the C.B. radio to see if there was an >accident ahead. > Suddenly I noticed a woman and her friend stranded along the road with >their hood raised. Their car had overheated. People were jumping from >their cars and dropping off gallons of their own drinking water to the >woman. As we passed, giving her another gallon of water, the woman was >pouring water into her radiator when it spewed back into her face scalding >her on the side of the head. Immediately three or four strangers jumped >from their slow moving cars to rush to her assistance, offering her towels, >and several men came over to cool her radiator for her. > Another mile or so down the road a trucker came on the radio and asked >if there was anyone who could tell him where he could stop and get a soft >drink -- he had nothing to drink as all the stores were sold out of >beverages or closed. A voice responded and asked him his location. He >replied that he was passing road marker 19. The voice came responded and >told him to look on sign post 21 when he drove by it. Suddenly horns >started blowing which could be heard for miles. As we passed marker 21 >there sat a cold refreshing Mountain Dew on top the marker. > People who would ordinarily be pushed to their limits were jumping >from their vehicles trying to help anyone and everyone they could. When we >finally arrived in Waycross nine hours later (a drive that would normally >take about 35 minutes) we had no where to go as all the motels for three >states were full. We slept in the automobiles with all the animals. It >was also one of the most restless nights I have ever encountered but we >made the best of it. > The next morning we arose at about six o'clock and just stood around >with thousands of other stranded people. It was cold, cloudy and the wind >was blowing at about 45 miles per hour. Along comes the local electric >company, asking us if we need any help finding a local shelter. We could >not go to a shelter because we had animals and we were not about to leave >our pets, even if it meant warmth and hot food. There were no restaurants >open for fifty miles so there was no hot food and we could not find any >bread as all the stores were sold out. So we just ate what we could and >made the best of it. > Several hours later an African American woman drove up and stopped >where we were huddled and said, "I know you do not know me from Adam but I >would like to invite you to my home to take a hot shower and clean up if >you wish." > As we traveled to her home we talked about her new WebTV and how proud >she was of it. My son and I, being WebTV wizards, left her house that day >leaving her unit packed with search engines, folders, web sites and as much >stuff as we could get into her unit. Not to mention signing her up as a >new Heartwarmers4u member! > When the authorities gave the all clear we headed back to our warm >sweet home. Yes, it was a bad and dangerous experience and one that I >never wish to repeat. > But the strong winds that were ahead of us yesterday were the winds of >kindness, friendship, courtesy and love. Not even the dangerous winds of >this deadly hurricane could ever change the determination, the fortitude or >the compassion of the wonderful people who make this country as great as it >is. > AMERICA, I am so proud of you! > ________________________________________________________ NetZero - We believe in a FREE Internet. Shouldn't you? Get your FREE Internet Access and Email at http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html