Day 19 after Hurricane Helene in Leicester, NC, Buncombe County, just outside of Asheville, NC.

Written By Tamalla, Your Empowerment Partner

(Preface: My local grocery store is still very low on provisions with most items being unavailable, so I still have to search out items I need. See pictures of my grocery store shelves.)

Today, October 15, 2024:

As I pulled into the far parking lot of Leicester Elementary School, following the signs for Food and Water, I saw the military trucks first and my body began to shake. I turned into the line and saw the National Guard members in uniform along with civilians lined up ready to move needed supplies into vehicles, neatly and efficiently.

I was the only one there and as I stopped at the first group of people I began to cry. The concerned faces rushed to my car to comfort me and see how they could help. I gathered myself as much as possible and told them that it was only me in the household and that I had bottled water but needed cleaning supplies. They asked if I could use some MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) and I could only manage “I am so grateful.”, through my tears.

These kind people opened my back seat door and pilled in a few boxes of MREs, a bottle of bleach, hand sanitizer, and snack crackers. One lady had me scan a QR Code that had all the information on support available in the area. I thanked them and their faces told me that I was one of the people that are the reason why they are here.

As I drove away, I could still feel my body trembling and tears continued to roll down my face. I was quietly sobbing. I was sobbing for so many reasons.

Reason 1: I don’t live in a neighborhood.

I live on a street in rural Buncombe County. I have neighbors but when the hurricane happened, and the aftermath, I discovered that mine was not like other communities. Instead of everyone joining together to help each other, my street was ‘every person for themselves.’  It broke my heart.

During the first 3 days after the storm, I knew nothing. I didn’t have a weather radio, no power, water, internet or cell phone and no way to get out of the area to find it. I couldn’t let my family know I was safe other than sending out an energetic signal.

I planted myself on my front porch on Days 2 and 3 and began calling out to people as they walked their dogs, “Hey neighbor, what do you know?” (I continued this until Day 9.)

 

It was by doing this that I found bits and pieces of what was happening, everyone having different small pieces of the puzzle. As I talked, I shared what I had been told so more people were informed.

 

I found out that 2 bridges had been washed out in one direction “so don’t go that way.” “Trees and power lines are down so you can’t go that way either. There is no way out.” “There is no gas/fuel available so don’t bother trying to get any.” “Everything is shut down. Asheville has been washed away. Thousands are missing. There is no food or water.”

 

Finally on Day 3, I had to ask a neighbor who was constantly trying to scout out the vicinity, “How do I get water to flush my toilets?” Toilet flushing was a desperate necessity by the end of Day 3.  He kindly brought over a bucket of water and poured it into the bowls. I was relieved but realized that I was going to have to start foraging for food, drinking water, and toilet water immediately.

 

All the food in my refrigerator and freezer was spoiled having had no power for 3 full days and I had finished off the peanut butter and hummus that I had been able to stretch. I began asking more pointed questions of people as they went by my house walking their dogs. “Have you found a place to get toilet water? Have you found a way to get out to find food?"

 

No one was sharing information unless pointedly asked. Even the one neighbor who scouted out the area only told me about places he found gas when I asked him how he was able to continue to go out several times a day and not worry about running out of gas. “I found gas at ..such and such... but don’t bother going there, they are out now.”

 

It was very disheartening how tightly people were hoarding information unless asked. I had moved to the Asheville area specifically because I wanted a community. A community of people who looked out for each other, supported each other, who would come together in times like these. And yet after being here a year, I still didn’t have that.

 

And when I pulled into Leicester Elementary School today and saw those military trucks and those folks in uniform I began to sob because I remembered the community I had when I was part of the military family.

 

Reason 2: I was an active-duty Air Force wife for 11 years.

(In the pictures above I was already a Mother of two and a Government Service Employee and worked for sequentially, the 17th Air Force and then the Communications Squadron at Sembach Air Base in Germany. These are the only pictures I currently have. Yes same dress but different years.)

I birthed both of my babies on an Air Force base 3000 miles away from family and friends. My military family helped me through long periods of time away from my husband as he was in school or on assignments in other parts of the country or the world. They helped me birth and tend to my babies when I was still just a baby myself. I had my son at 19 and my daughter at 21. They are 18 months apart.

 

My Air Force Family helped me learn how to protect myself and my children when we lived in a foreign country and were told that we could not speak English or be in any way identifiable as Americans in the village we lived in because we could be killed. They taught me to search under my car every morning for bombs before I put my kids in and drove them to day care and me to work. They watched out for me, invited me to dinners and weekend volleyball games, and in general built a life that included me and my kids and my husband, when he was there, which wasn’t often.

 

They taught me about my own resilience, to accept help without feeling like it was help. It was community, we supported each other, that is what we did. No one was ever lonely, no one was on their own. When Desert Shield/Desert Storm happened and our base in California was nearly emptied of our spouses and friends, those of us who remained grew closer and even more supportive. I was 9 months pregnant with my daughter and had a potty training 18-month-old. No one lacked, no one was separate, we were all a family.

 

And I have so missed that family atmosphere since returning to the US in 1993 and then my divorce in 1998. There has never been another community like my military family and yet I have longed for it. I have tried to recreate it but in civilian life everyone already has friends and family, obligations and responsibilities that always prevent the connections from becoming deep and united. Life takes precedence and it did in my life too. Through the ups and downs. And it’s been deeply lonely.

 

But I moved to the Asheville area with the intention of joining or even building a community of people who love each other, watch out for each other, support each other, spend time with each other and make the human experience, as well as, the spiritual experience important, joyful, connected, and fun.

 

And Hurricane Helene shoved right into my face the truth that I still hadn’t found nor created that community that is in my heart.

 

I am still reeling from all that has happened with this Hurricane and there are lots more stories to tell and I will get to them soon. But today was the day that I talk about the community that I want to build. That is the desire of my heart.

 

If you are interested in building that community with me, let me know. I would love to build it with you included.

 

Regardless, I am honored to be in your life as part of your success team, as a friend, as a teacher, as a peer, as a Priestess Sister, or however I show up for you.  Thank you for allowing me to be in your life. I am so grateful.

I love you.

Tamalla

P.S.  For transparency: I lost my income for October, November, and December 2024 due to the Hurricane.

I had multiple events scheduled for the next 3 months, and of course, I had to refund everyone as the folks were local and they lost their homes/jobs, etc. and have been deeply affected by this collective trauma. I am doing all I can to still support them.

 

If you have appreciated the free content I have shared through the years, the free classes, free tools, free meditations, free support, scholarships and discounts when you needed them, and the low-cost classes and support, as well, I would deeply appreciate your financial support at this time.

 

If you are in business, you know that I have to pay every month to keep that all hosted on the teaching platform whether I am making money or not. No company is giving any of this for free or discounted even with the Hurricane. Plus, the cost of the website, scheduling app, zoom, recorded conference line, insurance, internet, and so much more. My stripped-down business expenses are right at $1,500 a month before paying myself or saving for income taxes. Then there are my own personal expenses like power, phone, car insurance, you know, all those real people expenses. Without income it is impossible for me to meet those obligations.

                                                                                                   

So if you would like to help while I am recovering from Hurricane Helene, there are multiple ways you can support me:

 

  •  3.     Buy Jewelry/Amulets/Crystals from my Shop

    • If you enjoy fashion jewelry, crystal/gemstone amulets, or crystals you can purchase some awesome pieces from my Shop and I will be able to get them shipped out to you this week. Great for presents for yourself or as gifts. Prices range from $7 and up. 

4. Or if you just want to send a Love Offering you can do that at:  

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tamalla   

You will see this picture

Or Venmo: @tamallamallet

You will see this picture.

Again, I am so grateful to be in your life and to have you in mine. And I look forward to serving and supporting you in big and powerful ways as we move forward.

Sending lots of love,

Tamalla

Tamalla, Your Empowerment Partner https://YourEmpowermentPlace.com
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