As she loaded them in her car, she mumbled and moaned and counted and her eyes were redder than ever. And then, without thinking, I put my hand firmly on her shoulder and stared deep in to her eyes. She looked up intensely in to mine. And I said to her, (Ms. Patty, you are a very strong woman.) The words just slipped from my mouth before I knew it. And they sunk in to her bones immediately. Without hesitation she dropped her bundle and burst in to tears. I wrapped my arms tightly around her pudgy body and she melted. She muscles released, her mind gave and pure despair poured through her body overflowing on to her dead lawn. She sobbed on my shirt and heaved for air as I held her strongly and said nothing.

A quarter hour later, she looked up at me with a rudy face and little girl eyes and said, (Im having a very bad day.) I smiled and said (I know you are. I know. And youre doing just fine.) She cried some more and then, with my mouth on the top of her head, her grey hair on my lips, I told her (Youre going to make it Mrs. Patty. Youre going to pull through this. Youre going to be ok.) She looked up at me and said, (I know I will. I know. And ya know why?) (Why?) I asked. (Because everyday since the storm, I have found a penny.) (Really?) (Do you know the message Im being sent?) (Tell me.) Then in a slow strong tone staring deeply in to my eyes she said, (In God We Trust.) And as tears began to roll from her eyes she looked up at heaven and spoke directly to God himself. With snot in her nose and gravel in her voice she belted to God, (I get it Lord. I get it! And good heavens am I trying. Im trying so damn hard! Im here. Im willing. Im able. I want to do it God. I want to! But you just wont tell me what!!!) I held her again and she hugged me tightly as she sobbed quietly.