They are back (Hurricane Isaac part 3)

My mom drove Wayne back as far as she could get in the truck this morning and from there he waded in to the house.

Washington Avenue was as far as they could get this morning at 10.

  Yes you read that correctly.  Mom drove Wayne's truck to this intersection and he waded back to the house in his waders.  She said that his boots came just above his knees and the water hit the bottom of his knees.  I guess that means he barely made it.  She was able to drive his truck in this afternoon so they are officially back (water is still too high for her car).  She did say that as she rounded the corner onto their little street she opened the truck door just to see where the water was...It was up to the door.  She said she shut the door as gingerly as she could and reminded herself that Wayne said to drive in and not stop.  Her comment was, "I have never  driven through water that deep but Wayne told me to come on!"

The water line always tells the story.  Even though the street is still high and the front yard looks like the first picture I put on here, it only got about 18" high under the house and about 3 1/2" high in the pump house.  They are extremely thankful.  

Mom said that as she stood outside by the truck watching Wayne wade in (what a sight to imagine!) just to make sure he was going to make it through a man approached her and asked to video her (or take her picture); he was filming for an episode of Hurricane Hunters for the Weather Channel.  I never knew this show existed but I guess I am going to watch it.  I am guessing that he wanted to video Wayne trying to get back home while Mom looked on.  She said they made her sign a waver and all sorts of crazy stuff.  The best part though was this (and those who know the man well will be able to picture this perfectly) "I'm standing there watching him wade in; he was wearing his waders and his uniform. [I knew exactly what she meant but she paused a second and then said just to make sure] White t-shirt, [I interject "cut off jeans"] Einstein hair, waders, holding his shoes."  Even typing it I laugh and can picture the sight perfectly.  I asked why she did not take that picture from this hurricane saga and she doesn't have a good answer unless it is that the tv man got her distracted (that is my thought not hers).  I told her that I really hoped the tv man was able to get a good shot of the crazy man wading back to his home!  

I have an childhood memory; I am guessing I was about five, of Wayne and Mr. Striffe (I have no idea how to spell their last name but that should be close enough), our neighbor at the time, wading me and I guess my mom and sister out of the house before a hurricane or I guess possibly after to that very Blow Fly Inn sign.  Only difference was they were wading and pulling us behind in the metal row boat to get us out to the car.  So strange yet so normal in my mind.

Thank you for all your prayers.  They are so thankful to be back home and from what I hear well on their way to having things all bleached out and pressure washed.  They just need the sun to shine so they can move the stuff back.