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You are here: Home / Archives for hurricane katrina

It Could Almost Always be Worse

October 31, 2012 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

If the economy is not doing well, don’t blame our house.

We’ve been pouring out enough cash to keep a crew of drunken sailors spending through re-enlistment.

It’s not necessarily because we want to; it’s just — well, you know — sometimes life kicks in. And when you own a house, it needs repairs. Unfortunately, they’re all at one time. We weighed the alternatives: save money versus living in a cave, but what can I say? We like the finer things — like walls.

Within the last week, we had to hire someone to cover up several patches on the house’s exterior where paint was peeling. Normally, my wife and I would do that, but the spots were near the roof and we didn’t have a ladder that long. (Besides, either of us on a high ladder? Not a good idea, even on the best days…)

While getting those walls retouched, we discovered windows with leaky frames. Ka-ching! That’ll set up back some coin. As it also turns out, the bathroom is leaking like a sieve in to the garage. It turns out we are putting a plumber to work now too, and — because of said leak — might also hire a carpenter. We sure hope so! We just love stimulating the local economy!

As they say in those TV ads, “But, wait! There’s more!”

Every year, we avoid turning on our home’s heater until November first. Since October can be chilly, we practically sleep in parkas, while donning sweaters and jackets all day long. I’m not complaining (much), because we save a few dollars — as well as feel we’re being good stewards of the environment. I don’t know if you’ve looked at a calendar, but — Hooray! It’s November! “Sweet heater, bring unto us your warmth!”

Guess what. I flipped the switch, and, nothing. Nada. Silence. No wondrous balminess doth emanate from its magical vents. I’m just guessin’ here, but I’ll wager that repair won’t be a freebie.

As the adage goes, “When life gives you lemons, they’re usually really bitter, nasty, ones.”

Okay, maybe that’s not the expression, but it feels like it, because on top of the home repairs, a few family members have hit rough patches. We’re not codependent, but there’s also a set of priorities by which we live. So, when family needs you, you do what you can, which in this case involved our checking account.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: family, Gratitude, humor, Inspiration, mental health, Newspaper Column Tagged With: carpenter, disrepair, home maintenance, hurricane katrina, hurricane sandy, life gives you lemons, paint, perceptions, when life gives you lemons

Keep it in Perspective

October 29, 2012 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Keep things in perspective.

We’ve had a rough couple of days at our house. It seems like the fates are conspiring to cost us money.

  • We’ve had to hire someone to do some painting on the exterior of our house where the wood was starting to show through.
  • We have some windows where the framing is leaking and causing some rot. That’ll set up back some coin.
  • Our bathroom is leaking. We heed a new shower head, some plumbing repairs, and  – because of the leak – we’ll probably need some floor repairs
  •  As November approaches, we’re finally ready to put on the heater. Guess what? It’s not working! I’m sure that will cost us something.
  • On top of all that, a few family members have hit some rough patches. When you’re family (in whatever definition you choose that to be), you step in. So we have.

I was getting a little nervous about all the out-pouring of money.

And then, I realized that at least i don’t have a hurricane barreling down on my neighborhood and I remembered after Hurricane Katrina, we lost contact with a friend who was in its path. We were scared that something had happened to her. Several days later, she contacted us. She was okay. However, the roof of her house was gone. She said she was really blessed.

“Blessed,” I asked? “You just lost your house.”

“But I’m still here to tell you. And everyone is fine. I’m really lucky.”

It was a great lesson.

Sometimes, we’re better off than we realize – especially when we have others who watch over us.

(To our friends in the path of Hurricane Sandy – we’re thinking about you, sending our best wishes, and praying for you. Be well. Take care of yourselves.)
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Asking for help, Gratitude, Group Support, Motivational Monday, Power of Attitude, private Tagged With: family, family and friends, hurricane katrina, hurricane sandy, overcoming fear, path of hurricane

Lessons from Hurricane Katrina

September 7, 2005 by Scott "Q" Marcus

This column was not supposed to happen; instead, I was scheduled to be a keynote speaker at a conference in Louisiana this day.

Mother Nature had other ideas delivered as hurricane Katrina.

Hurricane-Katrina-Sign-Aug-28-05With indescribable sorrow and mouth agape at the sight of such awfulness, I cannot pull myself away from the plight of the Gulf Coast. Robotically, I shake my head and repeat numbly, “There but for the grace of God, go I.” It could just as easily have been an earthquake or Tsunami bringing national cameras to scrutinize my family in our most intimate, broken moments struggling to hold together, adrift, frightened, and cold in the worst of all worlds.

Due to the unsympathetic force of nature and the rearrangements being made, I have lost income.

Yet compared to my friend and associate, Myra, my costs pale. Where she lived has no roof and is full of water. In spite of that, she describes herself as “fortunate.” She spent today helping families with less. I am privileged to know her.

So very fortunate am I that I take blessings as common-day events.

When involved in the confines of day-to-day existence, I have been known to whine bitterly about sluggish traffic, jammed faxes, or misplaced keys. Broken shoelaces, missing shirt buttons, or ants on my sink irk me endlessly.

I presume my daily misadventures can indeed be labeled “problems,” and yes, they are frustrating. At the same time, reality is they are so insignificant. Too often, I become too self-centered to remember that. The dropped cellular call or the unexpected invoice becomes the world’s prime catastrophe. I puff up and spout off, grumbling to my friends, who nod in agreement. We are bonded by our miseries. When we rule the world, things will change.

In a world that can shatter instantly, where unfathomable countless thousands lack shelter, shed tears for loved ones, or cannot find food, I bemoan that I have to count fat grams or cut back on dessert. Can I even know how many pray to be in my shoes?

Peace of mind requires that I remind myself that my tribulations and troubles are usually miniscule. Put it in perspective.

Life is rich. Keep it that way; shut the refrigerator door.

Filed Under: Current Events, Gratitude, Newspaper Column, Power of Attitude Tagged With: bad weather, grace of god, gratitude, hurricane katrina, mother nature, path of hurricane, priorities

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