Hurricane Ian

(Written after Hurricane Ian finally left the area.)

As I sit here in my house without power, I find the darkness and silence peaceful yet uncomfortable. There is no hum of the air conditioner or glow of a light to distract me from myself and my thoughts. I am grateful I am safe, and my home was not damaged. I know God will see me through, even if I lose faith at times.

I am unable to sleep and I begin to look back at the past couple of weeks. My intention was to share my experiences while in DC with the DC Project but I felt I needed to share what was on my heart right now. My next blog will be more details on the trip and experiences and lessons I learned along the way.

It’s been a whirlwind from emotional highs to devastating lows. I represented Florida, in Washington DC with the DC Project. We met with legislators to develop relationships with them to support the Second Amendment. One of many high points of the trip was that I spoke at our rally on the steps of the Supreme Court building. Then, I was able to spend a few days with my nephew and his wife while I was there. This is the first time I have seen them, since Covid hit. I flew home on a Thursday and was in Titusville, FL, on Friday and Saturday to attend the Warrior Women event at the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum. Met some amazing women that stopped by the DC Project booth. Then I came home to prepare for Hurricane Ian’s arrival in two days.

My heart breaks and tears run down my checks as I see pictures of the devastation of places that have become a part of me and places where memories were made. It’s just a reminder not to take people or places for granted. You never know what the future holds.

Southwest Florida, the community I live in, is facing tragic times. Ian has taken lives, homes, businesses and landmarks from the people that live here. What Ian hasn’t taken and won’t take is our will to survive, work together, and rebuild. Homes and businesses will be rebuilt. Landmarks will take on a different look. We will come back from this.

God Bless America. God Bless Southwest Florida.

“The real heroes are those who rebuild their lives using adversity as a stepping stone to greatness in the midst of the chaos life has thrown at them.”

Nikki Rowe