by Giles O’Dell.
Dear Tod,
Hello again! I hope you and yours are in good health and spirits this summer! I’m enclosing the new issue of Zoonbats, continuing this lunar road trip. It took me several months to get back to writing and drawing after our surprise visitor, Helene, here in Asheville. In fact, it took quite some time after that just to fully grasp the scope and severity of what had happened. In the first couple of months, we were just focused on the new routines to get around the lack of electricity and cell service (just for a week) and running water (a couple of months). In those early days, a sort of improvised town square formed up the street from our house, in the cluster of library, fire station, and police station. People posted notes, maps, and flyers with news (“all interstates in all directions out of Asheville are closed due to mudslides”) as well as requests and offers of services, and info on places where potable water and food was available. People were hanging out and talking as we all waited together and tried to get text messages out to loved ones. As you might imagine, it was all a mix of both heartening and heartbreaking, coming together with community and piecing together the full picture of all that. And then a bit sad when those basic services were restored and people didn’t feel the need to gather there anymore. Like, can’t we keep that part going? Of course, after the initial window of media attention shifts to the next disaster, there is just the long haul continuing for the folks here recovering. Drawing still gives me a uniquely peaceful feeling, so I’m glad to get back to it. Writing it pretty hard for me, though, so I’ll wrap this up now and send it along with best wishes!
Giles