Comments on: Jersey Strong

By: Jennifer W. Hanson

Jennifer W. Hanson — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:39:39 +0000

Although I don’t have childhood memories of the Shore (despite having grown up in NJ), I understand the emotional impact. I had to turn the news off at a certain point last week because I couldn’t take more of it, either. It is truly heartbreaking. There are still so many people struggling because of the storm, in all parts of the state.

I’ve tried to use my info pro skills for good and not for evil. I happen to be a birder as well as an MLIS, so I started posting updates about access to NJ birding sites to one of my blogs. It’s hard to look at photos of places that I’ve visited (sometimes just a month or two or three ago) that are now almost unrecognizable. On the other hand, every site that is open or reopens is a piece of good news. And birders want the info (at least the ones who have internet and gas for the car). I guess that’s how I’m dealing with the emotional overload of post-Sandy news.

Anyway, thanks for this post and hang in there.

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:10:36 +0000

Thanks. And stay warm and safe up there!

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:10:20 +0000

Thanks, Cynthia! Hope things are going well in your part of the state.

By: Bibliotheks Polizei

Bibliotheks Polizei — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 05:39:12 +0000

I’m glad you and yours are ok. I’m on the south shore of LI where the stomping was heart breaking. The pictures of Staten Island and Lindenhurst, makes me want to cry just thinking about it. I lost power for three days, but my pattern of behavior was pretty much the same as yours, just on a the tiny screen of my phone. I’ll pass the link you posted along. Take care.

By: LibraryCynthia

LibraryCynthia — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:32:11 +0000

I had the same reaction after Irene, where the damage was far worse for me on a personal level. This time I intentionally did not look for photos or news. The first few days that was easy–I had no power. On Thursday, when the power was back and I was at work, the steady stream of customers with stories provided me with more information than I needed or could process without getting overly emotional.

As you say, the devistation impacts me so much because these places and people are real to me. I am a new junkie–it is rare that I am not watching, reading, or looking for news. And like you, I wish I could find a way to make the feelings become an action, but even so, I have to shield myself to a certain extent.

Hang in there. Thanks for the information on the NJLA fund–that sounds like a good thing to check out.