Crushed Dreams and Crocheted Caps
Published 2:26 pm Tuesday, October 15, 2024
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By Laurel Gillespie
Guest Columnist
The devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Helene is overwhelming. In the aftermath, International Disaster Emergency Service (IDES) has been operating out of the fellowship hall at First Christian Church, sending teams to assist storm victims. Amid the mud and destruction, there is a bright story – a story of resilience and kindness – from one of the volunteers, Laurel Gillespie, who came all the way from Humboldt, Tenn.
Disasters have a way of uniting people through shared experiences, though individual responses may vary. Shock, confusion, anger, and sadness often layer on top of exhaustion as survivors grapple with multiple losses – homes, photographs, and a lifetime of memories, all swept away. Flash floods feel particularly cruel, giving little time to save cherished items.
We were part of a cleanup crew at a home north of Mountain City on Roan Creek. Before the flood, it had been a quaint cottage surrounded by flower gardens and trees, nestled beside a babbling brook. Now, remnants of that life – gardening tools, dishes, and household items – lay scattered across the debris field that was once a yard.
The homeowner sat quietly in her son’s van while we searched for salvageable items. In disaster cleanup, we don’t assume what is important; we try to gather unbroken belongings and set them aside for the family to sort through. Among the debris, a crochet hook was found. When we showed it to the homeowner, her face lit up. “I’ve loved crocheting all my life,” she said with a smile. She is now 84 years old.
A few minutes later, her daughter-in-law brought over some crocheted caps. “Mama wants you to have these,” she said. When “Mama” gives you a handmade cap, you put it on and get your picture taken!
The kind-hearted woman then offered to make more caps and scarves. After some discussion, it was decided that she would create these items to share with other mountain folk who had suffered losses.
The flood may have taken much from her, but her thoughtfulness for others gives her a renewed sense of purpose. And I now have a soft, warm cap and a beautiful memory, despite the disaster.
Photos by Michael Klaus, Sr. Minister
First Christian Church Elizabethton
