Punta Gorda.......

I finally was able to get through to John & Dona's home phone & Dona answered. The damage to their house is extensive, but they are living in it & do have insurance, thank goodness. Like we thought, the pool house is gone, the Lenai & laundry room badly damaged, the A/C unit is gone but on its way it destroyed their carport, & the roof over their 2nd & newest bathroom is gone. The rest of the house is OK altho' one door won't shut (maybe walls a bit off?). Furniture thrown all around & John's new 'puter was soaked with rain (it was against the roofless bathroom wall in their livingroom)..they don't know if it will work again. Water just came on a day or so ago, but they can't use it even to wash with unless boiled & no electricity to boil it, so they are making do with bottled. The house across the street (they shared fruit with us) is gone as is the young lad's who came to chat with hubby whenever we stayed there--he had it up for sale last winter & we were hoping he'd sold it..he did but the sale hadn't completely gone through before Charley blew in. Dona says vacant land goes for over $100,000. @ lot so he won't be out of luck. Other homes on block damaged or gone....

Dona said John was thinking of riding out the storm at home but she insisted they go to the Centre...over 1000 there. The Centre was damaged..they lost their beautiful new theatre (John took us through it while they were building it & when done..was gorgeous). She said she was strong while the hurricane was on, but when they were allowed to come back into their neighbourhood, she just burst into tears when she saw their street & home.

John goes to work but Dona hasn't been to Pinch-a-Penny as the store is damaged. Wal-Mart's just south of it on #41 is more or less gone, next-door Publix badly damaged but hope to open again in a few days. I asked about Fishermen's Village, that huge mall where we eat in The Fish Market restaurant, but they haven't been in that area yet so don't know.

Dona said to please thank everyone who has been praying for Punta Gorda & Pt. Charlotte. I just wish we could all give them a ((group hug))

Starfire