Trapped with cat, however HOA to the rescue
Published 11:30 am Wednesday, January 24, 2024
- Steve Stricker
By Steve Stricker
Columnist
Monday 1:25 pm, January 15, snow piling up on high of sleet that started falling Sunday round 5:30 pm. Feel as if I had been rudely jerked again to February 2021, similar uncommon situations, similar consequence – Yogi Berra, would say “Déjà vu all over again” due to extraordinarily steep driveway and hill to get to and from my home, frigid temps stopping melting, I used to be trapped in my home for eight days – lacking two Sunday Masses consecutively for the primary time ever and going a wee bit “cabin fever” loopy!
Then, Thursday January 18, freezing rain falling, ice and snow piled up, can’t get out of the home since that Monday, meds, eye drops, meals operating out for me and Jag, as in February 2021. Somewhat panicked, may solely management stuff on my finish – stated my Rosary, shaved, first bathe since Monday, dressed, and despatched this e-mail to our HOA:
“HELP!!
South Oaks HOA
South Lamar, Blvd.
This is Steve Stricker, 509 Donna Cove. I had my home inbuilt 2000, one of many first right here, years earlier than any HOA, however I pay the dues – though I personally get nothing from doing so. In February 2021, due to ice and snow, very steep driveway and hill as you recognize, I couldn’t get out of my home for 8 days. I referred to as the HOA president and was advised they may or wouldn’t do something. Now, right here once more, since Monday, January 15, 2024, I’m once more trapped and might’t get out. I’m operating out of drugs, eye drops, meals for me and my cat, and even with temps within the 50’s subsequent week, it nonetheless shall be over 8 or 9 days if fortunate for me to get out – that is an emergency! I don’t care about pool events and no matter, I care about residing, and being trapped right here is just not solely bodily irritating, life-threatening, however mentally hectic!! Please do the precise factor HOA and get some snow shifting tools in right here to clear Donna Cove and different driveways like mine which have us trapped. Respectfully, Dr. Steve Stricker 509 Donna Cove”
I completely empathize with others on this state of affairs, however that is about survival – no eye drops controlling stress in my solely glaucoma eye means going completely blind – meds, and no meals for me or my cat, is sluggish loss of life And sure, I used to be right here to expertise the ICE STORM of 1994 – no electrical energy for 2 weeks, which attributes to my stress about this present state of affairs! Stranded, locked in, can’t get out, suffocated, cabin fever…!
3:20 pm, Thursday, January 18, Eagle column due, taking lengthy nap – knock on entrance door, half asleep, opened to bunch of people all bundled up with two parcels of stuff from retailer and do-it-yourself for me and Jag from our South Oaks HOA!!! Humbled, humbled, humbled – Thank You, Thank You, God!
In religion, and as time passes so rapidly, know that me and Jag shall be okay, however subsequent week is a lifetime away. In Vietnam for a full yr July 1969, for the primary time tried to wrap my head round what that yr forward could be like – and pictured a prepare observe into infinity and was overwhelmed. And now, simply trying to hotter climate this subsequent week, 8 or 9 or extra days away – am seeing the identical prepare observe….
Time, time, time, God’s time, all shall be okay, simply time away.
Steve is an Oxford resident and acquired his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology (Counseling) from Ole Miss.
