The Southern Spirit

Just the other day, we had a swarm of powerful tornadoes rush through our communities here in North Carolina. Today, my 15 year old daughter and I took a little road trip along the line of destruction.It was evident quite early on that the damage was severe when we encountered numerous detours just to get to Holly Springs High School. I actually got to experience using my all wheel drive Subaru for the first time. (My parent's neon blue Ford Maverick conquered greater terrain, although I never told them.) I know things are serious when a State-run Liquor store is closed... We eventually found my niece's house. She was at the beach, partaking in numerous bachelorette parties, while Hubby-To-Be was schmoozing with five other guys, a baby, and three dogs in a central bathroom. They made out fairly well, while close neighbors did not. But the support of all that could afford to give extra help was evident. There were Boy Scout Moms moving branches, folks everywhere were concerned about others, whether they knew them or not.

I think what I'm saying is Community can be stronger than government. Yes, we are getting a lot of help from government agencies, but I think the key is how the community is coming together to help it's own. It's more intimate, more heart-felt. I only lived a few years above the Mason-Dixon Line, and I was born in the Deep South. So, I'm possibly biased, but I see this as something unique to the South. We are used to being beat-up. We are used to lousy weather at times. But we are survivors through and clear. And we are quite willing to share whatever we have with whoever is around. And we still give thanks to the Lord who gave us what we do have.


Carey says I need to add how I feel about this. I think people are the key to making this country work the way it is supposed to. We can't rely on government to get the job done. My mother always told me, " If you want the job done right, do it yourself." There's a lot of action in those words.