I am honored to be featured on the Another Mother Runner website for the "Follow this Mother" segment today. They emailed me last week and asked if I would be interested in being featured on their site... Um, that's an understatement!
In my post-Sandy life there has been a significant amount of media around me. I went from a little running blogger mom from Staten Island to the blogger from Staten Island who lost her home. I have hosted Christy Turlington and Anne Curry at the foundation of my home.
I have appeared on the Dateline, Steve Harvey and Katie Couric (yesterday). I was even met Mary Wittenberg and Vinny from the Jersey Shore (no connection there, huh?). My husband was featured in the New York Times and the Huffington Post to name a few.
So, yesterday, as I was telling my sister about all the amazing gifts that Katie Couric gave the audience of "Sandy moms". She asked me, "are you sure you would prefer to have your house back?" and the answer was and still is, an undeniable yes.
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| My house <3 - 2011 |
I would gladly give back all the experiences, good and bad over the past eight weeks just to be home. That house was my favorite place to be. We stayed home most weekends, especially in the summer. We'd spend the morning and afternoons cleaning and running errands. Hubby would mow the lawn or fix something while I did laundry and the kids played or swam in our amazing pool.
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| The boy and my goddaughter in my pool - Summer 2012 |
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| We swim, hubby mows. |
Almost every Friday some friends would be over and hubby would cook a huge dinner followed by drinks and great conversation. We hosted holidays with family. We even had car wash days where friends and neighbors would come over and wash their cars together in my huge driveway.
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| Family BBQ - Summer 2012 |
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| Our Backyard Beer Fridge |
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| Dinners at the Correa house |
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| Dinner with friends and neighbors <3 |
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| Backyard Deck |
In my daughter's room, we used the frame of the closet to mark the kid's height. The boy had the right side and mini-me had the left. I remember marking it quite recently and noticing how much the boy had grown. My son's room was a Spiderman themed room that took weeks for hubby to perfect. The colors were the perfect red and blue walls and even the light switch matched.
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| My boy's first night in his Spiderman room |
People have tried to comfort me by telling me that the house and its contents are material things and in time we will replace them. We have rented an apartment and thanks to the generosity of others, we already have the necessities for life and some other gifts that we didn't even have before. I am so grateful for all of that. Unfortunately, the things that I miss most cannot be replaced. Like the feeling of being home. Feeling safe because even if hubby was working, there were neighbors who in six years became family to me. These are people that I could count on if I needed my son picked up, my dog fed or if I just needed a hug. My home was officially within NYC but it was more like a small town within the 1/4 mile that was called Kissam Avenue.
I know that there are worse things than losing your home. Much, much worse things. I realized that last Friday and may God bless the souls in Connecticut. So, I am moving forward because I have to. The media is there for the story, not for me. I get that. Soon the media will be gone, because my life will no longer be news worthy. I look forward to those days. I enjoy being a little running blogger mom. I just hope I can someday rebuild the security and warmth of a home.
Thanks again to everyone that has sent an email, gift, tweet or even just a prayer. I am lucky to have so much love in my life. I am forever grateful and hope to some day give back to each of you.
xox
Jen
Although I know you are GREATFUL and THANKFUL for everything everyone has given to you and everything will get put to very good use , I also know you would go back 8 weeks just to have "YOUR" house back.There is NOTHING like the sense of SECURITY and COMFORT of "YOUR HOME". You know the one both of you worked so hard to provide for your children and everything you have bought in that home from the T.V and the dishwasher (that was purchased 2 weeks before the storm) down to the underwear in your draw and the toothpaste in your bathroom. I know you are greatful for it all and the media for keeping the sories alive I also know you would go back 8 weeks just to put the keys in "YOUR DOOR" and go home.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Nicole. Except that I lost "my keys" and I don't think the neighbors still have the extra set. :/
DeleteLove you Jen. Don't believe the hype - those who know you, know where your heart and best intentions really lye. You're doing the best you can with what you got and fighting to keep your family above water. New stuff is nice and all, but memories are priceless - no insurance payment or free trip can ever bring them or your home (as it was) back. Don't ever feel guilty for accepting the generosity of others - you may not be able to repay them financially, but you've given them the gift of your hug, your smile and your gratitude - also priceless. xoxo.
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