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John Shore's avatar

Hey no fever for me! So we killed whatever psycho bacteria was trying to kill me. So now I’m on the mend for real. Still no water or power. But that’s okay, because it means I’m finally living my long cherished dream of doing, every day, about zero grooming. Whoo hoo! We also have no internet. So I don’t know if this will post. Gonna try now.

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CH (Kerry)'s avatar

THANK YOU for the update! VERY glad to hear no fever - phew!

I wish there was more we could do from afar.

RE: WiFi

(You may know some of these already but posting just in case it is helpful to you or someone else reading.)

These are Asheville WiFi locations I've read about:

- North Asheville Library has WiFi. Access it in the parking lot with the password “readmore”.

- The Creamery in West Asheville, just up from the RiverLink bridge, has WIFI available from the outside, and a power strip on the front steps. The address is 167 Haywood Rd. A sign in the front door has the information to join the network.

- Citizen Vinyl on 14 O'Henry Ave.

- DoubleTree by Hilton on 199 Haywood St.

- Asheville Shelter - Ferguson Building on 340 Victoria Rd.

Once you have Wifi this link is helpful - It has mapped locations of water, food, shelter, WiFi:

https://www.blackmountainnews.com/story/graphics/2024/10/01/asheville-nc-helene-recovery-essentials-map-water-food-shelter-wifi/75469854007/

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Ken Leonard's avatar

JOHN!

Thank every god, creature, fiend, squirrel (I think those might technically be creatures, but ... whatever!), and spirit that you're okay!

Also, those stories are wonderful. People will be good if we give them the chance to be, won't they?

I hope that you're feeling better and that your health really is improving. You really didn't have to replicate the breathing scene from "Everywhere She's Not," I think. Is method-writing a thing?

Anyway, ... John, take care. I'm so glad that you're doing this well, and that you have neighbors who are being the village you all need. That's something.

Take care.

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Dr Deborah Vinall's avatar

I am SO glad to find you in my inbox today! I was thinking of and worrying for you. Sending hope from my heart to yours for full recovery in both your body and community.

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Jendi's avatar

Words fail me. Sending you healing thoughts. Thank you for this story of human goodness. We need it in these disastrous times.

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Misty's avatar

JOHN!! I have been so worried about you. I knew something was wrong with you before the hurricane hit. Now..shit. Can I do anything? Venmo any money? Is the post office even working there? Can I send anything? Please let me know. Much love to you and Cat!

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Lotus's avatar

I had entirely forgotten you and Cat are Asheville. Thank goodness you two are safe, coughing up of lungs and a week in the hospital notwithstanding. I'm also glad you weren't in the hospital in the throes of that illness during the hurricane.

For all of the ugly in the world, there are many other everyday stories of people looking out for each other. I see it every week when my neighbors and I help one another negotiate alternate side parking so no one loses their parking space or gains a ticket. It's small, but it makes a big difference, just like the $5 the woman in line handed you. I'm glad there are so many wonderful people around you and that you are among the wonderful ones.

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CH (Kerry)'s avatar

I was so glad to see your email today! I'm really hoping you continue to be OK. Maybe you should drive to somewhere that has power? Can you get to Charlotte? I want you to be near a good hospital if you need one, like Carolinas Medical Center.

Please keep us posted. You can just update here in the comments, you don't need to write another post. We're going to worry if you don't update, so please please do. Love and prayers, Kerry

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Katie Treisch's avatar

Hey John! I'm so glad you and Cat are doing alright. My parents are still without power and water, and they also live in a rural spot in Rutherfordton with only a few neighbors, and they were told not to expect power back any time soon. I'm especially sad about Chimney Rock. It was one of my favorite places to visit and it's just gone. Completely gone. These small family businesses will never recover, and one day when the town finally rebuilds it will never be the same. I'm praying for your health, John, and for western North Carolina. I wish I could be out there helping people.

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SPW's avatar

https://mailchi.mp/bedd4ebf0148/heres-your-watchdog-weekly-newsletter-23547?e=fa00ecbaff

John,

I just got this from The Watchdog newsletter. Situation at HCA is not good!

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SPW's avatar

Damn John! You have been in my mind a lot for the last few weeks for some reason and now I know why. So very sorry to read about your severe respiratory illness. Be very careful running around in all that destruction as there can be some bad bugs flying around just now. Mountain people are strong. They are generous and good at improvising but even the amount of destruction I’ve been seeing has most likely knocked the props out from under even the hardiest. When Asheville had its blizzard in ‘93, it was called a white hurricane. Helene followed the same path that one did that dropped a ton of snow on top of us. Milam and I wouldn’t evac because of our dog so we ended up using our gas logs along with my cast iron skillet to feed us for the three days our power was out. The inside of our house got down to 38°. This catastrophe is so much worse though simply because it took out everything, everywhere.

I grew up hearing all about the 1916 flood but the population of that sleepy, little mountain tourist town along with the infrastructure was so much less than the city of 90 some odd thousand of today. People have built all over Hell and half of Georgia with no thought of the topography of the land around one. The RAD was nothing but train tracks and a roundhouse along with a few of the buildings that replaced those washed away or maybe survived the 1916 flood. It’s for certain the Asheville I remember from Nov ‘23 is no longer in existence. I’m sad for the loss of life and all the destruction but this disaster has got to wake people up. This may have been a thousand year event but rehabbing Asheville, heck, the entire area is going to have to take into account that it could and probably will happen again.

Please take care of you and Cat-or maybe she should take care of you and both of you watch for falling trees for a while now. Stay in touch as often as you can, you Boomer, you.

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