I went to my parent's house Saturday to help with the cleaning. I had a good idea of what to expect, but it's weird being there. A couple of times while I was driving around, I wasn't sure where I was - this is a few blocks from the house I grew up in. The water runs, but there's no schedule for when the electricity might be back in Lakeview. They'll have to unhook every house before turning the grid back on.


My dad has already torn a lot of the sheetrock off the walls, and pulled the cabinets out of the kitchen.


It's quiet in Lakeview. I didn't see any birds or squirrels; there isn't much for them to eat on the ground. There aren't any dogs or cats. Mostly you hear chainsaws and the sound of breaking glass. There's a whole lot of visiting going on - people driving around to check on friends and neighbors, talking about their experiences and plans for the future. My parents and many of their friends and neighbors are going to rebuild.

The only thing that really matters is the message that is scrawled on everyone's front door in orange spray paint. For a lot of people, it will be a heartbreaking message, but for us it's a good one. Zero bodies, zero bodies removed. Count your blessings.