FREE KINDLE FOR PC

FREE KINDLE FOR PC
So you can read my books

Friday, July 24, 2015

CHERISHED BLOGFEST_Where your treasure lies

 This weekend, Damyanti, Dan Antion , Paul Ruddock, Peter Nena, and Sharukh Bamboat are hosting the Cherished Blogfest. 

Participants are asked to write about a particularly cherished object, and why it's so special.

 CHERISHED LINKY LIST: CLICK HERE to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…


“Anything that just costs money is cheap.”
- John Steinbeck

“No one can tell what goes on in between the person you were and the person you become. No one can chart that blue and lonely section of hell. 

 There are no maps of the change. You just come out the other side ... or you don't.
- Stephen King







Survivor Duck rests on an honored spot on my mantle.

Once I was all alone in a deserted Louisiana coastal city smack in the path of a category 5 hurricane 

(that's winds over 155 miles per hours)

My supervisor, a few brave co-workers, and I labored all morning to get rare blood to neighboring hospitals.  The winds were frightening.  

In all my efforts, I noticed a rubber duck floating by the back door.

(The water even then was ankle-deep)

 The call went out to evacuate the city.  I had been wolfing down a lunch sandwich at home. 

 I went down to my car in the apartment parking lot to find all the gas had been siphoned out of my gas tank.

And the gas pumps were all closed, the power out.

Freddie, my friend and supervisor, called at that moment asking about me, saying he had a feeling to check in on me.

And together, he and I went to Baton Rouge to work long, long weeks delivering rare blood

 from that bloated city to far-ranging hospitals, even to the outskirts of New Orleans.

I had lost all I owned in a house fire years before, and now, there I was living in a motel filled with hollow-eyed survivors, 

delivering blood past frightened young men in uniforms clutching guns with fear-filled eyes.

I had saved my cat and the clothes on my back.  That was it.  

To know nothing of how your city is faring while delivering blood to cities ravaged by hurricanes is sobering.

I did not know from night to night if I would have a place to stay or if my city still stood.

I came back to my city to find it like a set from a post-apocalyptic movie.  

Trees, houses, stores, landmarks -- so many gone or terribly damaged.

 My apartment complex had been trashed.  I had little left. How could I go on?

I limped back to the rear of the blood center to help salvage what little could be saved.


And there was Survivor Duck wedged up against the back door where last I had seen him.

I smiled. 

 It was as if the Father said: "If this little rubber duck can survive this madness, so can you."

So when things get dark, I look up on the mantle of my new apartment and smile.  

Me, Survivor Duck, and The Father will see things through somehow.

20 comments:

  1. Both the fire and the hurricane must have been horrific experiences for your own loss and to see so many suffer. I'm glad you re-found your lucky ducky charm. May he watch over you all your remaining days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Father does that -- Survivor Duck is just a physical reminder of that. :-) Yes, both were scary times. Thanks for visiting!

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Sur.vivor Duck thinks so! :-) I often wonder what awesome sights went on before the little guy during those terrible weeks

      Delete
  3. Finding peace in the small things can be the biggest blessings. Have a great evening!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Trauma has taught me that, David. I will try to have to have one -- this weekend is solo duty for me at the blood center. Whew! Ma

      Delete
  4. Hooray for Survivor Duck. Something to look up to, smile at and with, and to emulate...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You just made Survivor Duck's day! :-) Sometimes survival depends on us just hanging in there, right?

      Delete
    2. Often. Particularly when it all seems tooooo hard.

      Delete
    3. Exactly. Nothing is forever -- not even hard times. At least I tell myself that!

      Delete
  5. That's an amazing story, Roland. You and the duck did make it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've had to hide him from my kitten, Midnight, who has taken to leaping up on the mantle and knocking him flying. Now, Survivor Duck is lurking between the front paws of my hand puppet of Aslan!

      Delete
  6. Hi Roland .. I love Survivor Duck - very appropriate name - for what must have been an horrendous time. You've had more than your fair share of 'horrors' / experiences.

    Wonderful story ... especially for many of us as we know some of the other 'things' you've been through.

    Love Midnight's jealousy!! Glad you've got mischievous company around ... they make you laugh and smile ... while Survivor Duck shows we can all survive ...

    Good luck and cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Midnight is watching the letters go up on the screen as I type. He approves of his picture on the post above here!

      Midnight has an explosion of energy trapped inside his little body, and poor Survivor Duck is too bright of a target!!

      Most people we pass have endured more than shows on their faces. Life is so often hard. We have to treasure the lovely moments when they come, right?

      Delete
  7. What a profound story, and how lovely and whimsical symbol Survivor Duck became. May the little yellow ducky see you clear through to new, great times of your life (which you've earned)!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When I moved to my new apartment, I made sure Survivor Duck didn't get lost in the shuffle. I've found that sometimes whimsey will see you through the dark times! :-) Thanks for the kind words.

      Delete
  8. That is an incredible story. Survivor Duck deserves that space. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Holly. Sorry for the delayed reply but I've been working all day! Whew! Survivor Duck should ride me on the weekend!! :-)

      Delete
  9. You've been through so many challenges, Ronald, and come out the other end, just like Survivor Duck.

    Thank you for sharing this beautiful story, and for introducing us to Suvivor Duck-- I shall remember him.

    Thankyou for supporting the Cherished Blogfest, so happy you could take part!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry that I couldn't visit many of my fellow blogfesters, but I work solo all during the weekend! I should bring Survivor Duck with me these days!!

      Delete