The Storm

123 Pirate Avenue is the last house standing for over 1/2 mile to the Gulf of Mexico. Katrina got the others, then the dozers cleared away the debris. In one of her lucid moments, the lady of the house called 123 Pirate Avenue her “Long Beach house.”

They are old, he is a Korean War Marine and she is the bride of his youth. Her Alzheimer’s makes it necessary for him to lead her around by her hand. He often sits beside her and just holds that hand. She says that he is a “nice young man.” He is angelically patient.

The Long Beach House is at elevation 23 feet above sea level. It lost the roof, the bricks on the south end, and was flooded about eye-level to a six-footer. Most of the things of their life are gone. One of the few remaining, a framed black and white photograph of the two of them sat on a chair waiting to be restored. Even with the salt crust and corrosion, they were a fine looking couple. The looks in his eyes say she still is.

123 Pirate Avenue is being restored. New wiring, drywall, plumbing, roof, bricks, and paint are being donated and installed with the help of volunteers from the church. Folks from more states than he can recall have been in and on the Long Beach House. It is looking good. They are living in an RV behind the church building.

He is busy at the church building. He is the guy who sends out teams of volunteers to work in town. The group from Central in Huntsville had planned to paint inside the church building but God had something else in mind. God wanted work done in the Long Beach House. The sheet rock in the church building was not as far along as was planned. His old arm had to be twisted before he would grudgingly send people to 123 Pirate Avenue. He is a servant and puts his needs last. He has heard of a guy named Jesus and tries to imitate Him.

There was no flood insurance and the homeowner’s didn’t pay much. There is no long term care insurance for her. He has lost so much. He can’t even talk to her about it - she isn’t there.

He has lost but he has gained. He delights in chatting at length about most any subject with the volunteers who come to help. He is well educated - spent his working life supervising natural gas pipeline and pumping station work. His rapport with the people of the church has grown greatly - he is admired. His relationship with his Savior is strong and vibrant. Listening to his prayers is like hearing a friend talk to a Friend.

He almost gets excited about the 123 Pirate Avenue but not quite. He speaks of it in terms of “if we live there again.” One of the children wants them to move to Texas and live in a retirement home. With his arm draped across his bride’s shoulder, he sighs and wonders aloud but softly, what to do. He will soon have to decide - 123 Pirate Avenue will soon be restored. What he decides won’t matter to her but his life-long friends, the church, are still there.

Katrina hurt the Long Beach House, but it is being repaired. The Alzheimer’s was there before the wind and rain.

Which is the real storm?