Sandy Town Hall Meeting/family secrets

The impact of the Superstorm will be felt in this community for years to come. There are businesses that still have not reopened; people that have not returned to their homes. Many wish to be bought out, never to return to their former areas where destruction and death occurred. Some have nothing left and still nowhere to go; some are living in cars, guarding over their properties yet to have electricity, heat, or water restored.

This was confirmed at a town hall meeting last night at the high school nearest to one of the most devastated areas. In the beginning, it was standing room only, with most public officials on the stage. The president came the week before Thanksgiving, a holiday I took the time to research that had its own aftermath I'm almost ashamed I didn't know earlier. Some of the people in the town hall meeting had spoken to the president, some were in photos posted on Facebook. Nothing was happening for most in a timely manner. The Red Cross going around in neighborhoods ringing a bell for hot meals or distributing blankets was no longer enough. The food and clothing had either run out, had become limited, or moved to other locations most didn't want to go to.

As the town hall progressed the crowd thinned as hours passed; some went into the high school cafeteria where agency representatives continued to provide updated information or additional resources. Most who had left the auditorium had finished what they either had to say or heard enough, most leaving without the answers they sought, still discouraged and frustrated. There had been tear-filled voices in the microphones, and anger. There were notes taken, with no timelines guaranteed, or practical acceptable solutions for those with serious concerns, many of which were being heard for the first time. I took photos to remember, including the media cameras and their reporters, none of which I saw later on the 11 o'clock news, simply because I didn't watch.

The reality was on the ground, in this community, and others hit as hard. Recovery will take years. They say another storm of this magnitude in the near future is unlikely; it's no consolation to those whose feelings range from uncomfortable to a despair that their homes no longer exist or if rebuilt will be subject to the same destruction the next hurricane season; there's no guarantee it won't be next year, in the next decade, or the next century. There is no protection from the ocean; there will be more storms. No one wishes to be in the path of any at any time, never knowing when the next 'big one' will hit.

I was given a list of real estate options to explore in the event I chose to move out of a flood zone in one of the less affected areas, where many street lights remained out and generator lights still shined their ghostly brightness to the hum of their motors, a sound now associated with trauma and uncertainty, not for the first time.

I had planned to continue the family story written by my grandfather's sister who passed away before I knew of her, which will continue. It contains within it the seeds of deeply buried family secrets I didn't realize until reading it as it unfolds in tolerable installments here. She never knew how her son really lived later in life. I'm sure she was an okay woman, whose child was exposed to and committed an unthinkable act. She likely died before it happened; I'm not sure. I only realized until reading her story why some things did or didn't happen during my childhood, when I expected more, when I expected to be protected and believed. Had the truth been known or dealt with, the consequences could have been more devastating than a hurricane, though not as much as a child's trust betrayed or dismissed.

'Acceptance Speech (Unspoken)'

Not gotten my copy back yet, so it's not officially official (though perhaps for most basic purposes); was sworn in during a 'mandatory' orientation with a notarized document in the past few days.

What is official is formally offering sincere thanks and gratitude for your continued support and confidence in my abilities to represent the children, your community, and your school.

It was as important that as many as possible participated in the first ever national online election. I know it's hard to imagine, though I was as happy for any participation, even if I wasn't the one you voted for. You were part of history if you did.

I'm a very reluctant 'politician' and was steered in the direction of your district because of open seats. Honesty cannot always be best in politics, sometimes for good reason (such as timing, or the 'Santa Claus' debate, from someone who's found out or observed the hard way); what I strive for is to use as much honesty as possible in representing our children and communities for the highest and best of all concerned.

There's sometimes truth in the saying that "No good deed goes unpunished". Through trial and error and many 'hard knocks', with the help of a few seasoned 'veterans' I've gotten to know along the way so far on this journey, it is a continuing objective to keep the 'punishment' to a minimum. My 'BS meter' is pretty strong, and there's a learning curve to 'playing the game'. One thing I cannot or will not lose sight of is why we go through what we do. We cannot diminish ourselves by shortchanging the next generation, as we have witnessed a good deal of already.

Turning a tide is not a popular position to be in sometimes, as many are deeply invested in keeping things the way they are. If this were satisfactory for all concerned, I would not have allowed myself to be on the other side of the regular 'consensus'.

To have children seeing an 'older person' as their best friend years from now, that they learned the connection between what those who cared for them helped make what they have ahead of them possible, and much easier instead of harder will have been a life well lived and purpose fulfilled. One day at a time.

Our young people arrived to be able to develop the capacity not to respect those older than they are because they're told to (positively speaking). To have the knowledge and skills to discover both themselves, and the freedom it takes to accomplish that is part of our purpose as a community. It is in reaching that place that they can also see whom among the older in their spheres merit the future investment of precious time, to know beyond a doubt as to why, and maybe not because it's 'popular'.

If a child wishes to fill your shoes because of the example and legacy that was your life, we have all succeeded, as it is our environments that shape us, and the sum total of 'everyday' experiences children encounter with and without us makes us who we are.

There is no such thing as a 'little thing', and no such person as 'just a child'. Any one of us who was ever taught that in one of those unforgettable moments others made light of or lost sight of either recognizes this, or it shows or surfaces eventually. It is a wish that every possible moment in our children's developing lives offers opportunity, promise, and nurtures who they truly are. It is part of our collective purpose as self-identified conscious community members that the next generation has what it needs to do just that.

It goes beyond the thought of senility, where we are placed in the hands of these individuals when it's too late to wonder if what we did will insure the quality of care they are delegated to serve us, if some 'little thing' will extend our lives, or 'otherwise'. It is being proud in knowing that what we left will carry on not only through them, that it carried after them as well, as their legacy, from ours.

Not least of all, thanks to cherished staff and a few special others who continued to gently 'arm twist' and encourage until the process was 'finished', for now. You are all deeply appreciated for what we have in common that's all about kids, our purest and best teachers: part of why they're here.