Last week, for the first time since we moved in four years ago, our basement flooded. It rained all night and we woke up to wet, squishy carpet, which might have been tolerable if our dishwasher hadn’t crapped out last month and if our Monte Carlo hadn’t reached 200,000 miles a few days before. (Yes, we have two kids in car seats and, yes, we drive an ancient two-door vehicle; regrettably, we are of the “don’t spend it if you don’t have it” variety.)
While Geoff surveyed the damage just minutes before having to leave for work, I watched and waited for him to exhale. His eyes said the same thing they’ve been saying since we got married four years ago, since we bought a house and he went back to school and we had two (wonderful but expensive) kids: We can’t afford to fix this. We don’t have the money.
Although he’s right, this is not a “woe is me” post about how we deserve more than we have. We – Geoff, Savannah, Molly, and I – have each other and that is far more than either of us has earned during our 27 years in this world. We are thankful every day, flooded basements and all.
But it’s hard.
My parents were in our shoes not long ago, two kids just starting out, trying to survive on little income. Mom often reminds me of the days when she clipped coupons and dressed us in hand-me-downs so that she and Dad could afford to keep our bellies full of peanut butter sandwiches and mac n’ cheese. She says those were the best days of their lives, that they miss them now and someday we will too.
But it’s hard.
Holding our breath at the end of every month, praying that we’ll have a little bit extra to put away after bills or at the very least break even, is not our idea of a good time. Surviving on love sounds sweet and whimsical until you’re staring at a two-hundred-dollar car repair bill and an empty checkbook. Sure it’s nice we have each other and all, but c’mon people, the kids still need to eat.
And the night after our basement flooded they did just that, homemade ham and bean soup that Mom brought over while Dad and my brother helped Geoff tear back the carpet and clean up the water.
Because although they know that someday we’ll look back on these days and smile, they also know that right now it’s hard.
(Thanks, Mom and Dad.)
Ugh. That IS so hard. Thanks for sharing this.
Also, parents are the best. Why don't we know that when we are teenagers? I'm sure glad they stick around until we appreciate (need!) them again.
Absolutely, yes. I don't know what I'd do without them!
Tsk. We'd rather those first few sentences didn't have to be written down, but yes, flooding is a thing and it is an incident that you'd really have to deal with. Just make sure that you've kept tabs of all the impacts and the damages, no matter how big or small they may be, and that those are all taken cared of precisely and in detail. So that you'd know what to do next time, or better yet avoid it. All the best!
Gail Wallace @ Water Damage Restoration Southern California