Water, worms, and woes

Nature had caused problems in several places we’re familiar with. The families of a number of Stephanie’s English as a second language students in Manatee County, Florida were involved in some way or another in the tomato and tomato processing business, and farm workers that the Committee of Immokalee (Florida) Workers with whom Presbyterians have worked – in the Taco Bell, McDonald’s, and Burger King actions – also pick tomatoes. The salmonella scare has sidelined many of these people and the businesses for which they work. (Pictured are tomatoes being restocked at a vegetable stand on the road between Stephanie and Vincent's old Bradenton apartment and Stephanie's old school.)

In parts of Central and Southern Indiana – north of where Stephanie teaches – flooding has washed out whole neighborhoods – for example, in Columbus, Indiana, and Indianapolis. Ditto for some towns through which I used to drive between Macomb, Illinois, and Minnesota’s Twin Cities.

In our own Louisville, the treacherous Ohio River has capsized two barges, which halted river traffic last week. I got back in time to see them raising the second of the two barges, across the parking garage and freeway from my office near the river.

Salmonella, flooding, and river water have ruined people’s homes, left them jobless for now, and killed some people, and our hearts and prayers go out to all of those affected including our neighbors and former neighbors and students.