blogs
Horribly Blessed
It started out like a normal June day—hot and sunny. Who would have thought it would be any different? I had just finished playing tennis, thrilled to get a little time to myself before the kids finished school. Then, as I backed out of the tennis parking lot, I got the call.
The good news for me: it was from my husband, and he was OK. The awful news for us all: There was a catastrophe at his job. He works at the ConAgra Foods plant in Garner, and there was an explosion and fire.
Throughout the day, I stayed glued to the television for news, pausing only to check online news sites or to text my husband to pass on information from the all day coverage.
We know now that three people didn’t make it out, and more were injured. All of the employees, I’m sure, are traumatized.
But before I can even wrap my mind around how this must be for the employees, and their families, before I can even truly embrace the idea that I could have been a widow too, questions keep going through my head.
How are the families of the employees who died?
How are the people who are injured doing?
When will employees get their handbags and other personal belongings that were left in the building? Because the structure has been damaged, no employees have been allowed back in.
When will they get their cars (the ones that weren’t destroyed by the fallen wall)?
What will happen to the cars that were smashed by the wall that blew out?
How long will the plant be closed?
What will happen to the employees during that time?
What mental fortitude will the employees need to walk back into that plant once it opens—if it does?
And of course--- what caused this to happen?
But we don’t have many answers yet, so we just wait.
It’s been said to live each day as if it were you last, but really, who can do that? Because if it’s NOT your last, you still have bills to pay, obligations to meet and goals to reach.
But this tragedy, in its horrible, terrible way, is a reminder to me that while I pay the bills, meet those obligations and try to reach those goals, I am indeed blessed to have the opportunity.
Pamela DeLoatch usually appears Tuesdays on TriangleMom2Mom. Read more about Pamela on her blog Crazy is My Life.
Crazy Is My Life
Four kids, two schools, a bazillion sports, a messy house and 90,000 133,000 miles on my four five-year-old van. Need I say more?
Pamela appears Tuesdays on TriangleMom2Mom. Read more about Pamela on her blog Crazy is My Life.
Comments
thanks for sharing your story...I am so glad to know the miracles of this horrific event as we reflect on the loss of life. your post brings to light many troubling questions of what will happen from here for all these workers as one ordinary day wasn't so ordinary and has forever changed their lives.
Prayers continue for those who are injured and for those that survived such a tragic frightneing day.
many blessings to you and yours.
LC
Wow.... I am very glad that he is OK. The families of those who didn't make it out have been in my thoughts and prayers all week.
I may be late in reading (just got a new computer...have been out of touch until I got it)...but I am so thankful that your husband is safe. It is such a tragedy. You always think stuff like that happens to other people. I guess it was a little bit of insta-perspective!
Thanks-- it's been a week now, and it's still sinking in. Fortunately, many of the people injured are on the road to recovery. ConAgra's been very supportive as they sift through this situation.
It’s been such a miracle that your husband was safe after the tragedy, its worth celebrating the God has given him a 2nd life. Miracles do happen. It is painful being separated with your loved one’s. Letting go is hard to do especially for the person whom you used to spend your life with. Jon & Kate announce they’re separating! Jon and Kate plus 8 has been a delightful show but since the Jon unfaithful incident, it has been difficult to watch and it is tearing up their family. TLC can expect some big ratings and maybe extra cash from advertisers during the one hour special of the normally half hour reality TV show about two people that have a large family and think that it makes them special. (It doesn't.) The inane Gosselin saga has been covered far and wide; recent divorce and infidelity rumors have been circulating the gossip pages and blogosphere, and many would give short term loans to make them go away after the Jon and Kate Plus 8 announcement is over.
That must be such a relief that he survived the Con Agra explosion. Those kinds of accidents are horrible, and despite the flurry of coverage they get around the event itself, the news networks typically don't cover what the impact becomes in the areas around it, which is kind of a shame. It's like when there was that mine explosion in 2006 in West Virginia, they covered the blast and the rescues, but they never really have gone back to look at what the town is like now. One wonders how long it takes for a community to recover from something like this. All the best to you and yours.