Rising out of the ashes...or, in this case, water!

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This is a blog post about when something awful turns out to be a blessing.

 

First: The Awful Perspective

Almost one year ago I walked into YoBergerVilla - or, that is, I tried to open the front door.  It would only open a couple of inches.  It was like something was moved against it on the inside.  There was also a terrible sound, like that of Niagara Falls.  After thinking "skinny thoughts" and squeezing through the door, I discovered that weeks of continuous water flow had inundated the house, causing the hardwood floors to warp into frozen waves across the main floor.  I will spare you the subsequent emotional details and instead provide a summary: two-thirds of the house suffered water damage.

Randy and I spent the next three and a half months of our life cleaning out and rebuilding YoBergerVilla.  We had no idea what the future held nor how far our finances would spread.  We left last-born Luke home alone in NC during this time as he finished his senior year of high school.  My last child was going to leave, and I left him first.  (Oops.  No emotional details.)  We were alone in a town that we did not know with no friends in sight.  

There was so much work to do that just figuring out what to do first was overwhelming.  And Randy still had to work his paying job during the day and I had to drive back and forth to NC to finish out the school year teaching math. It was all so seemingly overwhelming and impossible.  How does one recover from this?

 

Next: The Blessing Perspective

Randy and I spent the next three and a half months removing and rebuilding YoBergerVilla.  We had friends from NC use vacation (and retirement!) days lending their expertise and comfort during this time. (Nathan, Alex, Rick, Mike, Stephanie - you rock!)  Our realtor, David Williams (https://www.lakehartwellproperties.com/)  provided us with a place to live when the house was uninhabitable.  New Covenant Church (http://www.ncchurch.net/) provided us with fellowship and friendship as well as labor.  We made friends with our Cateechee Shore neighbors (Hey Genie and Kevin!  Melanie and Ted!  Lane and Kate!  Ray -- you were first to help!) where YoBergerVilla is located.  My uncle gave us his truck for $1 to keep in SC and we used it...a lot.

We have come to realize that Anderson has more to offer than just I-85/Exit 14 (where YoBergerVilla is located) and I-85/Exit 19A, where numerous stores are located. We have uncovered a vibrant community of wonderful people that we may not have found otherwise. Anderson has its own unique charm and exciting events, and one does not have to travel to Greenville to experience a fulfilling life.

Practically, there were other blessings.  I've listed them below in chart form.  Most of these were only realized because of the water crisis.

For a couple of years I had a list of the changes I wanted to make...and Randy had his list:

Me: 

  • Sink wall of kitchen -- fix the rotting cabinets and move the fridge   DONE
  • Master bathroom -- fix the rotting cabinets  DONE
  • Paint the entire main floor.  Nicotine yellow is not pretty! DONE
  • Make the downstairs look less like a basement and more like a downstairs DONE
  • Carpet the stairs, paint a pretty color, put up an eye catching light fixture DONE
  • Get rid of the downstairs shower and replace it with anything DONE
  • Ethernet down to the dock DONE
  • Full path to the dock including a Golf Cart turnaround 
  • Better heat and air downstairs (because after all, it IS a downstairs and not a basement!) DONE

 

Randy:

  • Fix the driveway
  • Electricity, water down to the dock DONE
  • Fix the driveway
  • Small shed down by dock to store kayaks, etc
  • Fix the driveway
  • Replace the HVAC (heating and air) (I put this on his list because it broke and his list has all the fixing kind of things.) DONE
  • Fix the driveway

 

 

 

 

 

Well, I got my wishes in spades, and Randy...not so much.

       
                 
       

 

YoBergerVilla is a delightful retreat for anyone looking for a "Happy Place" to spend their time. I have yet to write about the dock and the Lake with its secluded surroundings. I will reserve that description for another blog post.