I put this story in this particular forum for a reason...you'll see how it "fits" once you read the E-mail that I just received.
Two friends of mine from Texas - living in Galveston - & caught up in that unexpected natural disaster.
They did everything right and Got Out (left) EARLY (at first warning) & things still did not go according to plan.
They followed instructions.
By The Way - They do not own a defensive firearm - and their fate and their lives were placed in potential grave mortal danger. Thanks to a GOOD person (a retired EMS person) they came through their scenario alive and not much worse off for the wear.
This is the story of Miles and his wonderful wife.
Miles is a Doctor and the author of three medical books in his field.
He is absolutely brilliant & his wife is sincere, generous, and loving beyond belief. Trust me...Trina would never have to work a day in her life but, she does volunteer work at the hospital every day & buys toys for all of the kids in Terminal & Critical Care.
She is an amazing and selfless person.
I wanted you good forum people to read this BECAUSE I know that so many of you would have done exactly the same thing that Mr. G. did.
The world is a much better place because of people like you.
We can never allow the predators to take over for then they have won...and civil society is doomed for us as well as the children of tomorrow. Here is the E-mail.
Dearest W. & C.
It's obvious your hopes and prayers did indeed help quite a bit. Our home was saved and in the condition we left it.
Our odyssey was amazing, distressing, and prolonged. We were on the road (the gridlock you saw on TV) from 5:30 am until 7:30 pm (14 hrs) and had gone only 65 miles (our destination was Austin!). When we stopped for gas in Houston, our car stalled, and we couldn't get it started. Generous others tried to help us, including the use of jumper cables, and they finally pushed our car into the light of the service station. Miles called all the Emergency numbers, asked the station owner to call a mechanic or even a wrecker...nothing.
Gene G. (a man) walked up to our car and asked if we needed help. He identified himself as a retired EMS-fireman and an amateur mechanic, and he was plainly a nice man. I honestly believe that God sent him to us. He went home (he lived nearby), to return in his truck with his wife. They used an extra-something cable, and were able to help us restart the car. But no air conditioning in 100 degree heat. He led us to a hotel, but they had no vacancy. So we went to his house, where he gave us something to drink and a cool place to think.
He also offered to allow us to stay in his living room for the night. Such generosity. What irked me was that Miles wanted to accept the invitation until I gave him a dirty look as I felt scared in a stranger`s home. We were in a seedy part of Houston and I was sooo scared to death. We called Caren (our daughter) to explain our situation, and she called her friend, Touela, (we know Touela well) who had also been on the road all day and who was going to stay with her friend and co-worker. Touela asked her friend to take us in, and she quickly agreed. So they picked us up (we left the car at Mr. G.'s, to return in the morning to try to get it fixed). The car returned to normal all by itself.
Touela`s friend looked after us for two days, bless her heart (her husband had to be at work elsewhere). Then we went to Touela's house (when it was safe to go) and stayed there for another day. We returned home last night, expecting the worst, but the house was in perfect shape, no leaks, no damage, and the power was ON! Double Hooray! We have returned.
The only damage was to two China-berry trees, big limbs of which came crashing down, but not on the house.
Miles and I believe that Mr. G. saved our lives...literally. The thugs we saw around that service station (many of them just hanging out) looked like they would have taken pleasure in mugging and murdering us for the contents of the car.
All that Mr. G. wanted from us was the realization that we can help others in need, but Miles sending him a very nice gift.
We are worn plumb out and very grateful for our lives and for our amazing good fortune. I pray we don't ever go through this again. While at the gas station, Miles and I had tears in our eyes from fear. We had never felt so scared. The season for hurricanes has been extremely devastating for so many people. My heart goes out to them. It is a horrific experience. Did you know that Port Arthur and Beaumont, Texas are just about an hour from Galveston? We were lucky it missed us.
So, here we are, ready to start life again. It is nice to have such caring friends. We are lucky people to have you in our lives.
Thank C`s Mother for her prayers as they helped quite a bit.
Love............xoxo
Trina