In a busy world too many still fighting for basic needs 

There were a couple of ideas for what this piece should have been last week or this week.  Jimmy Carter has made it to 100. This column is generally about politics with a Georgia perspective, and no Georgian has made it farther or longer in that space.

We’re now also at the one-year anniversary of the violent massacre of innocent civilians at a music festival in Israel. Seven Americans remain as hostages while our President says the protestors calling for intifada both at Israel and here at home “have a point.” 

Then we have the election. By the time you read this, the window to register to vote will be closed, and early voting begins Monday Oct. 15. Both major parties have chosen to run candidates with major flaws. I’m convinced there are few “undecided” voters. Most of us are just frustrated with everyone.

That’s a lot going on, and in future pieces we’ll circle back to a one or all of them.  Today, with yet another hurricane spinning up in the Gulf of Mexico, my thoughts remain on the aftermath of Helene. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

When our lives are uprooted and turned a bit upside down, all the things we spend so much time and energy fighting over suddenly seem inconsequential. They’re not, of course.  Presidential elections and eradicating or placating terrorists have real and long term consequences.  

It’s hard to deal with the long term problems when you don’t have food, water, shelter or power. As I write this, 10 days after the storm brought its power to our state and region, many Georgians are still trying to re-establish basic services.  

I lost power at my home for one week. The tree that ripped the main electric and internet service lines from my home came to rest just above my car, with several of its larger branches making enough impact to warrant getting it into a collision center for repair. I’m now part of the “insured losses” statistic, and likely in a rental vehicle for weeks.

It’s trite to say, but I know I’m one of the lucky ones.  My car was still drivable.  I had no hesitation about springing for five nights at a hotel after spending the first night after the storm with no air conditioning or internet. I was even able to get up to Atlanta to avoid the general disruptions that come with clean up, power restoration, and local merchants reopening as they were able.  

I’ll illustrate how I internalized this on my trip back to Savannah. I was about to pass through Metter during lunch time, and checked one of their local restaurants’ Facebook page  – Beverick’s –  to see if they were open.  They had just re-established normal hours but with a limited menu and reduced buffet prices. They noted “Our goal is to get as many people fed as affordably as possible.” They also noted to please remember their staff has lost work for most of the week.

It sounded like a place that could use some bounce-back business, and I needed to eat. With my buffet plate full I began eating but was distracted by another customer. She was talking to someone else at her table, and I honestly couldn’t tell if she was laughing or crying.  

Upon looking at her I caught myself judging. I had to remind myself that most of my fellow diners hadn’t had power in a week, and the thought of escaping to an Atlanta hotel was likely a luxury with no practical application for them.  

Shortly thereafter a young mother, another young girl, and a child sat at the table next to mine. I overheard her ask my server “Do you still have hurricane plates? And are they free?”  The waitress smiled and said “we sure do” and soon returned with three full plates of chicken.  

I went back to the Facebook page of the restaurant and read their entries in full detail. They understood how badly the community they rely on for business was hit. They were giving back, literally, with a free meal for anyone who needed it through the weekend.  

It quickly became clear that the servers were likely doing the same. People on the verge of losing everything don’t generally have money for tips. I tried to make up for a small bit of that before I left, reminding myself again how lucky I am.

Over the weekend a fire gutted a city block of Metter’s downtown. Businesses that survived the storm’s damage are now added to the list of those working to recover.

Back at home with power and internet, I began to see a lot of what I had been missing. The usual suspects were arguing over whether the Federal Government was responding adequately, especially in North Carolina, with some clearly making up stories served fresh to those with confirmation bias.

I’m assuming most of those with time to make the political arguments had plenty of food, shelter and utilities. Too many in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and beyond do not.  If you’re going to spend energy on the hurricane’s aftermath, I’d advise finding someone in actual need, and using that energy to directly help them.  The rest is just a distraction and a waste.