One of the best reasons for having this site and selling merchandise is getting to know the people behind the stories they’re telling.
One of these stories happened recently and I wanted to share it with you.
Tonya (from Graceville, Florida) ordered an “it is what it is” t-shirt. She had a request to change the order up a bit which spurred emails and “conversation” between the two of us. Come to find out, Tonya was directly involved with damage after Hurricane Michael and she told me what they were up against. I asked her if I could share it on here because I felt the story needed to be told. She said I could…so here it is:
The photos posted don’t do the situation justice. The boss had five barns. Now he has none. They are destroyed. Inside (one of the first pictures) is an International 2188 combine. The barn is wrapped around it. There was a five bay lean-to that we parked the tractors under attached to that same barn. It is laying in the peanut patch to the South. The other barns are likewise. Most of the cotton crop that had recently been defoliated is on the ground. It literally looks like it has been picked and tossed on the ground. The wind sucked the front off the thermometer and then peeled the numbers off the face!
We have to turn our attention to the crop though. The damage will have to wait. We have to pick what peanuts and cotton we can.
We are a week without power and understand it may be at least one week more. Cold showers aren’t so bad. Heck, it’s 90 or better every day. But we have generators and a camp stove, grill. We be alright.
Silver lining in all this…no apparent …hopefully….damage to the tractors, equipment or combine. Might have to cut it out of the barn, but okay!
In a more recent email, I asked Tonya if there was anything the HarvestHER community could do to help. This was her reply:
Our local churches have been so fantastic. Between the Baptist Association and Samaritan’s Purse, we have not wanted for anything. We went without power for twelve days and took lots of cold showers and ate lots of grilled hamburgers. I’m hamburgered out! Lol! We are a bit further north and west than the worst hit area.
To help, you can simply pray.
I think that people have become numb to so many disasters happening so frequently. They have the response down to a science. Especially the power companies. Our local power grid was completely destroyed. Crews from as far away as Ohio are here. LOTS of them.
Love, like you have never seen, has shown itself. Neighbors talked, shared, listened.
It’s been amazing!
1. Be ready to go at the drop of a hat...sometimes without a lunchbox.
2. Has removed the word impossible from her vocabulary!
3. Can hold a baby, take care of a toddler and drive a tractor or combine all at the same time.
4. Must be able to cook for a crew - large or small.
5. Must be able to read minds.
6. Must be able to banter with a parts man until he realizes you DO know what you're talking about.
7. Must be the entertainment director for those rainy days.
8. Be a wife, mom, friend, helper, cook, problem solver, taxi driver or extra crew hand at all times.
9. Can handle the call that makes you react, "You need what? When?" Dropping everything you're doing to make it happen.
10. At the end of the day say, "I really do love this life".