A CNN Producer Contacted Me Today!

I'll bet you're thinking it was a job offer.

Like maybe a local producer position for a show by and for teens about pop culture and current events. Or perhaps a traveling correspondent covering international youth exchange programs. Or maybe even a writing position, specializing in youth media issues.

As much as I'd like to tell you that you're right, well... I can't.

But still, it was kinda cool. Turns out, a CNN producer out of LA saw the posts on my blog about yesterday's storm and wanted to know how our town looks now and whether I know of any personal stories about the storm. I told her that things have calmed way down in our town, but that Lou's (my dad's new love) granddaughter's house in Chahalis literally filled up with water and floated away before her eyes.

There, unfortunately, is quite the story... and probably the one she's looking for. I wish there was no story there.

Although the water has receded, plenty of people are still struggling to get through this mess. At least five people are dead because of the storm. Many have lost property or have been otherwise affected in ways that will impact them for months or years to come. One house that was for sale is now under ten feet of mud. Some people can't get to (or from) their homes. And Interstate 5, which is the main north-south corridor connecting California, Oregon and Washington, is closed near Chahalis and probably won't open again for at least a few days.

Yet we're fine, warm in our house with heat and power and our lives back to normal. Others would love to be so lucky. I would love it if they were so lucky, too.