I am glad to be writing this

First off, I want to say I have sure missed talking to you all here on the board. We have finally got our internet back. We have been under curfew and things have been bad in this area. The tornadoes did so much damage all around us. We stayed awake for so long, we were actually taking shifts sleeping so that someone could listen to the radio and know when the next tornado was coming our way. We were spared here in my home and for that we are thankful. So many around us had so much loss. We are fairly close to Marianna and Panama City where lives were lose. My family plus some extras that ended up at my house did okay. I had the only injury, which was I ruptured my ear drum in a freak accident during the storm. I hope someone has done a roll call. OKAY FLORIDA PANHANDLE. IF YOU ARE OUT THERE , PLEASE LET US KNOW. IF YOU NEED SOMETHING, PUT IT ON THE BOARD. SOMEONE MAY BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO HELP. Thanks to all of you out there that have been praying for us here. I believe that is what helped us get through all this so well. Carol

Carol, after praying for central Florida to be spared yet another hurricane, all we could do for you is pray for mercy!! I will be so glad when this season is finally over!! I'm so glad you both made it through safely.

Carol, My prayers are with everyone affected. Possessions can be replaced - people can't. I'm so sad that there were people who lost their lives. It really puts things in perspective and returns and awe and great respect for mother nature. I agree, if there is anything that any of us can do, please don't hesitate to ask. I've been donating goods and cash here to the Red Cross, as I've heard that is the best way to get funds and help directly to the victims. If any of you out there can spare even $10 - it will go so far. I think you can go to their website to donate. Most towns also have a local office. So many of our fellow Floridians have been affected. Let's all keep praying! God Bless all! Barbie 281/196/170ish

Carol, So glad to see you post again, sounds like you guys had quite a scare. Thank goodness you were spared from the destruction so many others experienced. I am so sorry to hear about your eardrum, I hope you are healing and back to normal soon. Can you hear me? Can you hear me now????? Sorry, lame joke... Seriously, I hope your ear is healing and again, glad you're back. I missed your posts. Take care, Amy

Tallahasee Lassie checking in. We mostly got the outside edges of Ivan's feeder bands and that was bad enough. Some folks lost power but we never did. Our only problem was a TALL pine tree near the house that fell. Fortunately for us, it fell towards the back of our property & not towards the house or the pool. Unfortunatlely, it fell against another tall pine tree so it never fell all the way to the ground & is leaning at about a 45 degree angle. We'll have to cut down the standing tree in order to drop the leaning tree - which is fine with me! I've watched those tall pines swaying in one too many storms and worried that they would fall on our bedroom while we were asleep so I'll be glad to see them go. The only thing they seem to do is drop limbs, cones & needles in the yard & pool. They certainly don't provide much shade so they'll be no great loss! We've been keeping all you folks in our prayers, especially those west of us, as Ivan made landfall. Let's just pray that FL will be spared any more hurricanes. I think we've had enough to last us a few years!! Vickie J.

What an ordeal you have gone through. Thank goodness you are ok. Kallen