A Day of Many Emotions

This has truly been a day of so many mixed emotions. We are amazed at the recovery that is taking place in Alamos.

Helicopters and planes have been coming in every 10 minutes all day, CFE (the electrical company) trucks have been on the move, working diligently, OOMPAAS water vehicles are working hard to restore city water. Shelters have been organized, the federales are distributing food.

Bulldozers worked through last night and all day, and are working as I write, to clear streets of water, mud and debris. Families are sweeping mud from their casas, small children are carrying buckets of water to help.
This is a very, very active town.

People say that the governor was here several times and the federales are here as well. The press is here; alot of official folks, both men and women, are walking (not driving) around in the mud and debris.

One of the arroyas has been filled in enough that vehicles can now leave some isolated areas and seek shelter with families and friends in town. The road to Navajoa is said to now be passable if people should need to leave.
There is, however, alot of water still running in all of the arroyas.

Sadly, though, there is alot that we learn that we wish we did not have to learn.
It is the story of a friend whose mother and 3 sisters lost their casas and everything they owned, up in the Chalaton. It is the news that possibly over 5o homes were lost in the Delicias.
It is a sadness to see the home of some friends, covered in 5 feet of mud and debris. It is a sad thing to see that some of the alameda businesses are still gated, filled with mud and debris, and to think that someone has not been able to begin clean up, for what reasons we don't know.
And it is a sadness for us today, as a man came to our casa this morning to tell Umbierto that his son had been killed in a car accident in Phoenix.

Sadness travels a long distance.

But everyone here seems to also have a spirit.

I haven't lived here long, but I think that I already know that spirit.

I saw it today in the eyes of the old senora who looked frozen, leaning on her cane, staring at the rushing arroya.......but suddenly, she turned and looked at me, she smiled...adios (go with god), she said........