CRYSTAL BEACH, BOLIVAR PENINSULA

Second picture shows how far back the waves went. 20 feet or so? The first one ...at least there are some homes left. Ours was slabs and sand.

It has been 8 days, now, since IKE swallowed up Bolivar Peninsuala. We are all still in shock, and no one knows what is going to happen next.

http://www.khou.com/video/caught-index.html?nvid=282706

That is a 32 minute helicopter flight to the Peninsula, and it just shows the totality of the destruction. You cannot imagine how horrible it was. I am glad I wasn't there...because as Gov. Perry said..."almost certain death" if you stay.

A lot of Crystal Beach people are spread out over the state. It will never be the same, no matter how long it takes....There were 110 houses in our little 5 street subdivision. All but 4 are GONE!

Where does everything go? There are big items from houses, and of course, the never to be seen little treasures everyone keeps close. I had little reproductions of the ferries...I know they will never be replaced, as the man who made them died, and I believe his wife probably had the parts, in CB. Oh well..those are just things. Perhaps we can all stop, and think about the changes that people who worked in Crystal Beach, and the Peninsula, are experiencing. NO JOBS, no businesses to work for..no home left. Yikes, it is all so overwhelming. The pictures are of Bolivar, it is hard to tell where..but you can see the work ahead of us, and the people who will come in and help repair the erosion. There is talk of a bird sanctuary. I don't think Galveston County will want to give up so much tax base, to have a home for birds. No one knows, but I am betting in a year or so, homes will begin to reappear, and stores, and life. As with all tragedy, there is hope, and new life.

I am going to stop writing about his some day. For now, it helps to write to myself and remember. Don't mess with Mother Nature... God help those who need support right now.