🚀 go-pugleaf

Hi, everyone!

Well, we weathered the tornadoes with nothing more than inconvenience,
since the power was out for two days.  We were incredibly lucky, since one
the worst hit areas (7th Street on Dateline last night) is within a mile of
our apartment complex here in Midwest City.

I sure wish I could say the same of my friend, Donita.  For those of you
who know her, Donita Lawrence of Bell, Book and Candle Bookstore is one of
the romance industry's staunchest allies.  She lost literally everything in
the tornado, her house being at "ground zero" of the F5 tornado that
decimated parts of Del City (a suburb of OKC).  Donita has suffered horrid
health problems over the last few years, to the point of having to run
Bell, Book and Candle out of her home for the last few months.  She was
just getting back on her feet, healthwise, when this happened.  Murphy
doesn't get any meaner than that.  If anyone wants to donate a few dollars
to help Donita and Jerry with those personal items insurance never covers,
a fund has been set up by her friends. Please make donations payable to
Donita Lawrence c/o Janis Reams Hudson 466 N Carolyn Dr. Choctaw, OK  73020

I can't tell you all what it's been like these past days.  The TV stations
are playing full-time coverage, and everyone's trying to pitch in.  Even
those of us without power, but still with a roof over our heads, scoured
through our closets and pantries, finding food and clothing to donate to
shelters.  Josh (my oldest son) has added his brawn to the multitude of
young volunteers in the gathering places for goods.  I'm really proud of him.

DH is a trucker, as most of you know, so he wasn't here when the monster
storm hit.  He was in Florida when he heard the news, upon just waking up.
I've got to tell you, that was the first time in his life he ever made a
frantic phone call even before having his coffee!  The call came in to me
at 5:30 a.m.  He was very relieved that his family was okay.

That's all for now.  I've got over 700 emails to weed through....Ah, the
internet.  :)

Marilyn Grall  http://eclectics.com/marilyngrall  grall@telepath.com
IN SEARCH OF AMANDA, TAMING THE LION
CONQUEST OF THE HEART coming in July, 1999
Available at: http://newconceptspublishing.com