Misery loves company

Yes, our finished basement was flooded and it still has water in it. A bummer I know but I was listening to something the other day that said even in times of trouble we can find things to be grateful for. So here are my lessons from the flood.

• Life is unpredictable to be sure and we absolutely have no control. It's good to be reminded of this every once in a while so you don't take yourself or your tasks too seriously. Enjoy the moment like the sunshine warming your back as you load up another trailer with construction debris.

• I am grateful only our basement was destroyed and not our whole house - like some people.

• We had to move our keyboard upstairs due to the water and this has certain benefits. The boys practice more and with all the chaos now upstairs - my piano teacher suggested that my concentration will improve.

• We have gotten rid of a lot of stuff and that is a great thing.

• Though my brain cells don't always fire like they used to - I can follow complicated instructions like starting a gasoline powered pump. Instructions include turning it on, adjusting the choke, and priming the pump.

• The boys made $8.75 in about 30 minutes sitting down at the corner with our junk. After that they put up the free sign and all but a table went. Turns out Doug needs this table after all.

• The Xmas decorations won't smell moldy this year as they are upstairs in my closet now.

• We got six years out of our finished basement. When Doug called a friend to borrow his trailer he said, "I am unfinishing the basement."

• I got rid of a lot of stuff (this is the biggest benefit!) and this has me very intent on some decorating/making the house look nice. I have already rearranged the boys' rooms and want to re-do all the rooms with the help of a friend who has a very good eye and nice style.

• Matthew did his laundry because his clean clothes weren't coming fast enough as we were pre-occupied with the flood.

• We have been talking/commiserating with the neighbors. Misery loves company and I believe this flood has brought us closer together.

• In fact, it probably has brought the family closer together because we only have one primary room to congregate in.

• The boys are all helping Dad with the work in the basement and seem relatively cheerful about it.

• This flood has been something to open up a myriad of conversations with people. The only thing is when people say their basement was O.K., you want to secretly ring their neck.

• Doug now knows what it's like to get up in the middle of the night and pump:)