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Hobbit Aid  by Dreamflower 5 Review(s)
Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 999999 on 4/7/2013
I saw a reference to this in one of your Mathoms and had to read it. I don't even know what to say. When Katrina happened, I was too far away to really grasp it. On top of that, I saw none of the pictures and avoided the news. Some of us do have this absurd idea that if we look the other way, the horrible thing happening right behind us will just stop.

But when I was just eight or nine years old, I remember seeing a documentary about the long-term damage that can be caused by floodwaters. A woman talked about her house being flooded. She and her children went back afterward without having the place checked for mold. She found black mold growing there but didn't realize how deadly it was until it was too late for her youngest, just an infant. That haunted me for years, the image of that mother walking into her baby's room and finding him dead in his crib. Then later on, our church was doing mission work in Haiti at the time of a flood there. There was one family they tried to help, but only one little eleven-year-old boy was rescued from the roof of their house.

Thank you for writing this, not only for those who know what this is like but for those of us who don't.

Author Reply: Floods are horrible things, whether caused by hurricanes or storms or overflowing rivers--they sweep all before them and leave chaos in their wake.

I kind of felt horrible inflicting this tragedy on Merry, but at the time I couldn't help myself--and then I realized it had a great impact on his later character.

I'm glad if my story helps even a few understand what some people went through.

Theresa GreenfalconReviewed Chapter: 999999 on 10/30/2007
I hope that things are going well for you post Katrina and hope you've been able to rebuild home and life. Thanks for writing this story; it might get the message across to those without family or friends that were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita a idea of what happened and what still needs doing there - and that we need to step up to help people no matter where they are when things like this happen.

*Outstanding story.*

Tracey

Author Reply: Thank you very much! We no longer live on the Coast, due in part to the legacy of Katrina--though not for the same reasons as some who lost everything. But we still have friends and loved ones there, and worry for them. Even now, FEMA is still causing as many problems as it solved, and too many people still are in "temporary" FEMA trailers.

I am so glad you like the story. I wrote it at one go, and posted it raw, without any beta-ing, because it seemed to me that it *needed* to be posted sooner rather than later. It's one of those stories that rather write themselves.

Thank *YOU* for your kind words!

Mum's the WordReviewed Chapter: 999999 on 10/4/2005
Dreamflower, this was a wonderful story, including the real-life axe reference. There are too many favorite portions to mention here. Hurrah for the Marines -- er, Rangers!

Like so many others, I'm so thankful that you have fared so well. We'll keep you and your neighbors and loved ones in prayer as you work your way back to some semblance of normalcy.

Huggles and blessings,
Mum

Author Reply: Huggles and blessings back.

I am glad that you enjoyed the story. All the love and concern displayed for me during the time I was out of contact just astounded me.

We can always use some prayers. It's going to be a long haul.

SaoirseReviewed Chapter: 999999 on 10/4/2005
O, Dreamflower...

How sad! Just the whole thing...sad, and poor Merry - solemn even more. But such a thing, such a tragic event, must do that to one? *sigh* A beautiful story, even more poignant for such close ties to life. Thank you for this touching reminder of how dear things really are.

'Gently, Pippin wrapped his arms around his beloved cousin, and wept with him. This--this was what Merry had truly needed him for. ' Just lovely!

And the edict about the axes! O! I heard about the people in the attics during the hurricane and my heart just wailed...what a terrible, frightening way for things to end.

But on a happier note, it is so good to be assured of your safety.

Prayers to you and the rest of the people that were lucky enough to get through that ordeal -- and to those who weren't as well.

:) But a beautiful, touching story.

Author Reply: I am so glad that this touched your heart; I am too close to it myself to be any kind of judge of it.

The whole thing about people trapped in attics was even more horrible to me when I realized how very close things were for four of my friends, who had to retreat to their own attic for hours on end, and if the water had only gone just a bit higher, they could easily have become more of the statistics. *shudder*

When my husband told me about the old man, and what he did, I could not help but wonder if the axes he left had been of any use this time around. I hope that they were.

Thank you very much.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 999999 on 10/4/2005
We love you too and you are most welcome. I am very certain that you would have been there had it been one of us in trouble. As Pippin once said, "We hobbits ought to stick together, and we will..."

Author Reply: (((Hugs, GW)))

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