Friday JohnKu – AKA- TGIF

~ John W. Howell

TGIF

 

Friday is here, and I am in the bunker on the lower level of the house. The rest of the space is taken up with saws, hammers, and flooring people. I can’t complain much since I have the internet and electricity.  I am separated from my beloved refrigerator which right now sits somewhere in the middle of the kitchen. Well, we can’t have it all. I’m hoping the kitchen gets completed today, but sometimes that is a danger. (hoping that is)

The trek down the long road to completed repairs is almost over. I must say it has been an experience to remember. Each repair crew has different ways of doing business. Some are neat and tidy, and others seem to relish the saying, “You need to break eggs to make an omelet.” Somewhere in between is the finished product. We will be glad to do without the noise, concrete chips, plaster parts, wood splinters, aluminum bits, dust mounds, paint splashes, grout blobs, nails, and footprints. In short, we will be glad to make our own mess.

We are the fortunate ones. There are still families who have no home and still doing battle with the insurance company. Others have taken their settlement and run. It is estimated that our community lost a third of its full-time residents to Hurricane Harvey damage and will not return.

Today’s JohnKu talks about our sense of home. I hope you have a super weekend.

Home by John W. Howell © 2018

Taken for granted,

Our home is a safe haven . . . .

Being together.

 

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Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

71 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA- TGIF”

  2. Your home is “being together”. Powerfully captured, John! Hurricane Harvey took houses, but in your case, it did not take the hopes and dreams that make a home. Prayers for you and your “producer.”

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Harvey really did you wrong, John… My heart goes out to you with the mess, but especially the noise. The Johnku is truly beautiful.
    Here in DC… 66 mph wind gusts — 70 mph predicted for the afternoon. They called it an urban forest, and those hundred year old trees are coming down all over town. So many trees falling that the news is advising people to stay inside to avoid being hit by a falling tree or large limb… Even the Fed closed the agencies today. (Of course I already have my hours in for the week, so again I don’t get a break.) Same winds expected for Saturday too.
    Hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh I’m so sorry, Teagan. We are used to the winds and have palm trees which stand up quite well. I thought of you when the weatherman put up a front moving through the District. I think the wind should do you a favor and hit the beginning of the week. Hugs. (Stay inside is good advice.)

      Liked by 1 person

  6. I am happy for you that the repairs are being made and the end of the process is near. It’s sad to think that so many people are gone for good. I think I can understand that rebuilding might be too tall an order.

    When I did work in people’s houses, I always cleaned up after myself and other trades. It was always noticed. I found electricians to be the worst.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. We found the tile guy to be the worst. He had grout everywhere including the white posts. I had to paint the siding where he has taken a rag to wipe the splashed grout off. It was just a big smear. Of course, he is long gone.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Some people just don’t care.

        When we raised the family room ceiling, we needed to have the newly exposed chimney repointed. The mason rinsed his stuff with a hose pointed to our house and splashed mortar all over our siding.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Your JohnKu is touching, and a reminder that being dis-placed is one of the hardest experiences there is. It also brought to mind that old saying about a house not necessarily being a home. Houses can be rebuilt, but rebuilding human ties can be harder after communities are rent apart.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. My hand is up. I love Fridays. Wishing you a wonderful weekend and fast and tidy floor replacement. I’m glad your repairs are almost over. It’s so sad that you’ve lost a third of your residents. The weather this year has been brutal. But you and yours are safe, and that’s the most important thing.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. I had no idea that Port A lost so many permanent residents – another blow to local businesses until the summer folks return.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. A third? Wow, that’s an amazing statistic, John. I sympathize with them — hurricanes are no fun, and dealing with repairs afterward can be frustrating. Not everyone is cut out to live along the water. Glad you’re getting your work tackled and hope it’s not too aggravating. Try to think past the mess and focus on the finished product!

    Liked by 1 person

  16. It is never pleasant being separated from the fridge and kitchen. Although I got to hang out with our fridge in our family room:) Our home is our safe haven…well said, John. May your quiet one be back soon!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. How sad that you lost a third of the residents from your community. I hope the dust settles down soon. It will be wonderful when you have everything back in order the way it should be. Wishing you a wonderful Friday and beautiful weekend.

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  20. I’m glad to hear your family found a place to “hide out” while the work was being done and it’s almost completed, John. That baby panda is one of the biggest awww’s I’ve seen yet. 😀 — Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

  22. A third of the population left, John?
    You have my sympathies, buddy, that’s rough.
    I applaud your courage and fortitude though.

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  23. Your words are touching and true, John. So sorry to hear many residents left, but what a horrific event to experience. I’m glad your work is almost done, even though it’s a little tough living through the mess and noise. Stay safe and warm, and my hands are always up on Fridays. Enjoy your weekend now and you can’t go wrong with pandas either. 🙂

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  25. Hope things settle soon! Don’t know how you do all the repairs and manage to find time to write but I guess I did that when they put the roof on mine, lol. I still have a few things I couldn’t get done as the roof price was more than the insurance estimate. Mostly, the gutters and a window but neither are horribly bad. I’ll get to them eventually. Storms are just starting up here again with the North Easter but we got lucky compared to the east coast.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. It’s warmed up here again since last night. The snow crocus bloomed so signs of Spring at last. The east coast, unfortunately, got hit the hardest. We were in the inner stretch. Ohio.

        Liked by 1 person

  26. Lovely and heartfelt Johnku. I’m still waiting for our insurance to pay up. But I’m not worried about it, because luckily we didn’t get any major structural damage. We can live with it for a while. I’m glad you’re almost done with that mess.

    Liked by 1 person

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