Hello Mississippi

How are you doing my friends? DH and I got good news about old friends of ours from Columbus,Miss yesterday. Their son, Joseph, called and told us they were fine but without power and Mom/Erma and the kids were headed to Pensacola to stay with him for awhile. His Dad/Mike, is staying there as his workplace has power. A friend???? said to me "Maybe the LORD sent this storm to tell you not to have this surgery!" I was shocked but recovered enough to say I was not fool enough to think that I was that important enough for GOD to send a storm like this just to convince me to not have surgery. I also would hate to have the misery and the deaths of all those people on my conscience.I think I finally shut her up. I know she probably ment well but I am so glad and relieved we are seeing more and more names to the list. You know the old addage "Big girls don't cry!" Well I cried at a few of them. It was such a relief when Tammy S. came online and said that her family and Arlies were all right,WHEW!!!! Then Fredrica came on-line and others. The biggest relief was Wanda, I was afraid for her, fresh post op and where she lived. She's now on her way or at her Mom's in Baton Rouge!!! Praise God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I said a prayer of thanks for each one. I still haven't heard from Short-and -sassy249, but I think she's in school out of state. Not sure about that. Anyone else heard from her????Or anyone else? I'm having to limit my TV time as the devastation was really getting to me. It's soooo much worse than what we had with Ivan and so widespread. It brings back all those feeling of depression and hopelessness I had during Ivan. I had to limit the exposure to it and get out side in the sunshine more and away from the pictures. I advise you do the same. We have a friend that has 26 members of her family from Miss. living with her. We've been actively collecting things for them. There are a lot of collections going on for the Red cross and Southern Baptist convention for diaster relief. Help is on the way You did it for us(Florida) now it's our turn to repay. WORD TO THE WISE watch out for the storm chasers with their promises to fix your roof cheap. There are a lot of leaking roofs here that were done by them IF they ever came back to do it. The low lifes that they are prey on the elderly and invalids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd like to send them all out to a stormy sea on a leaking disabled boat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Vengence is mine;I will repay,saith the LORD." Romans12:19 I've seen this happen and the LORD did a much better job than I ever could. He took wealth and health from wicked people leaving them just shells of their former selves. Well enough of my ranting, please excuse the misspellings as I have a blind typewritter. The letters are about worn off and I type the hunt and peck method. Also I never was good at spelling. Love ya'll lots, Tomanip

Dearest Tomanip, Well God must certainly rate you above ALOT of other folks IF he sent this storm to prevent you from having surgery.....WOW!!! I KNOW how important you are, but to cause thousands upon thousands of folks to be homeless, lose everything, and so many deaths to stop one surgery.....Did you say to her, "and here's your sign." SHEESH!!! As if you aren't worried and harried enough. I, personally, thought the storm was sent because the State of Mississippi and New Orleans, of course, failed to crown me Queen of the State of Mississippi.....well, well, well....now I know! You have been a life line to me during this....I look forward everyday to hustling to the computer to see what the Tomanip has to say. You are the very best Tomanip I have ever known! Love you lots, girlie! Smoochies Arlies

Tomanip, I have found that people, even good friends and relatives are so tactless! After I had surgery, the first thing that my sister said when I saw her was why was I so stupid to have surgery. I didnt say anything, but I could have said, well not as stupid as you as you are now a diabetic! Others said, quote.....you silly woman, why did you have this surgery, you cant eat as much as before.... I said, thin tastes better than the food,......others said, you are not going to get your stomach stapled are you???? No I am just having my guts rearrainged!!!!!! Well, it is funny now, NONE of the people I work with will say anything at all, although now my weightloss is very noticeable. I think that they resent me losing weight, I was the biggest person on staff, now the honor will go to others very soon! LOL! You soon see how discrimination works for some people. They do not want you to be smaller, cause then they are the biggest person!!!! Oh well, I could rant on too, but being thin is the best revenge of all!!!!! Cheryl in Hong Kong 235/200/140

Cheryl, I missed something along the way. Why are you in Hong kong? Tomanip

We are from Miss. but are working and teaching in Hong Kong. We are retiring and coming back in 2 years.....