Last weekend was supposed to be a family reunion of sorts for Lauren Greenspoon.
In her final season as a volleyball player at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Greenspoon and her teammates had a season-opening tournament at Ole Miss. The trip to Oxford, Miss., was going to be a chance for her parents, Mike and Alice, to make the trip from Texas to see their daughter play.
But life gets in the way.
Lauren grew up just north of Houston, and her parents have been near the devastating scenes from our nation's fourth-largest city, which has been overwhelmed by rain and floods caused by Hurricane Harvey.
"They're OK. I've been able to keep up with them on social media," Lauren said of her parents. "There's a lot of flooding downtown, and my parents are staying put right now."
Jay Greeson
It's a wise call.
Lauren says she has tried not to watch too much TV coverage. It makes sense if you think about it. As gasp-worthy as the images have been for a lot of us who couldn't tell Houston from Hollywood, imagine if it was happening where you grew up?
The water - ever powerful, unrelenting - is everywhere.
The threat - drowning, destruction, devastation - is everywhere.
The need - "I guess the best thing people can do is pray," Lauren said wisely. "Those are always appreciated" - is everywhere, and obvious. The Red Cross is accepting all help in all forms, of course.
For Lauren, the knowledge that her family members are OK through the first wave of this disaster is welcomed news.
Hurricane Harvey
- FEMA insurance chief: Harvey losses could top $11 billion
- Harvey's flooding blamed in major gasoline spill in Texas
- Harvey and Irma to slow U.S. economy but rebound should follow
- U.S. House to vote on $7.9 billion Harvey relief bill
- Immigrants are sought for labor shortage in Harvey recovery
- Shelter dogs displaced by Hurricane Harvey arrive in Chattanooga [photos]
- Mnuchin: Congress must tie Harvey aid to raising debt limit
- Harvey's floodwaters mix a foul brew of sewage, chemicals
- Houston's homeless shrug off riding out Harvey on streets
- As Harvey finally fizzles, a look at what made it so nasty
- 3 tornadoes in Tennessee blamed on Harvey
- Upbeat Trump pitches in at shelter for Harvey victims
- Trump asks for $7.9 billion down payment for Harvey relief
- As floodwaters recede, Houston officials look to recovery [photos, interactives]
- 'Don't touch me. I'm dying.' Harrowing Harvey stories emerge [photos, interactives]
- Local animal shelters open doors for furry flood victims from Texas, Louisiana
- Likely tornado damages homes as Harvey hits Deep South [photos, interactives]
- Gas prices rise after Harvey reduces flow from refineries, pipeline [photos, interactives]
- Forecasters predict sunny Labor Day after Harvey's remnants blow through
- Grim reality in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey: More dead [photos, interactives]
- Harvey horror: Shivering girl, 3, clinging to her drowned mom
- Team made up of local emergency responders heads to Houston
- Texas chemical plant poised to explode amid Harvey flood
- Floodwaters drop across much of Houston; death toll at 20
- Western Louisiana in crosshairs as Harvey moves back to land [photos, interactives]
- Forecast brings hope as new shelters open, death toll rises [photos]
- Trump reassures those in Harvey's path that he will help [photos]
- Here are some ways to help victims of Hurricane Harvey
- Bracing for Harvey's return, worry renews: Is worst to come? [photos, interactives]
- Sohn: What lessons will we learn from Harvey?
- Chattanooga medical teams, volunteers aid Hurricane Harvey relief efforts
- More rain, more deaths: Harvey floods keeps Houston paralyzed
- Harvey slams region's economy, with damages in the billions
- Trump issues emergency declaration for Harvey in Louisiana
- Tennessee organization starts Harvey relief fund
- Desperate Harvey victims turn to social media to get rescued
- $3 billion disaster balance enough for immediate Harvey response
- A Houston family endured Harvey until the house was swamped
- Scientists say Harvey may be the soggy sign of future storms
- Residents in photo of flooded nursing home are 'doing fine'
- Photo of mother and baby's rescue becomes symbol of storm
- Public health dangers loom in Harvey-hit areas
- Officials act to protect downtown Houston from Harvey floods
- Harvey dilemma: Stay as water rises or risk flooded roads?
- Harvey spins deeper inland; full scope of damage is unknown
- Hurricane Harvey closes key oil, gas operations in Texas
- Houston roads start to flood as Harvey stalls
- Expert: Harvey weakened fast, but destruction just beginning
- Fearsome Hurricane Harvey slams into Texas Gulf Coast
- Menacing Harvey knocking on Texas coast as Category 4 storm
- Texas prepares as Harvey strengthens to Category 2 storm [interactive]
- Sandbags, plywood, generators: Texas coast braces for Harvey
"It's bad, but it's not directly on them," Lauren said of her parents. "It's crazy to say or even think about all the damage, but they are fine.
"I got nervous (on Sunday) but I'm pretty good at compartmentalizing things. That's helped."
Lauren, who is on track to graduate in December with a psychology degree, said she may not get back home to see the devastation first-hand until maybe Thanksgiving.
For lots of of folks in Houston, though, the thankful feeling is as strong as the water and the weather. Think of those horrific imagines, and know that only a few deaths so far have been linked to the storms.
As striking as the devastation is in and around Houston, the pictures and stories of people giving aid and assistance are just as powerful.
It is in moments like this - when our countrymen and women need help - that the America people come together in ways that make us all proud.
Yes, there's more rain coming. But there's more help coming, too.
From celebrities to athletes - Houston Texans star J.J. Watt has raised half a million dollars online in relief in less than 36 hours - we are at our best when a city, region or state is facing the worst.
Doesn't it make you wonder why we all can't treat one another with this much compassion and consideration and care in non-disaster times?
Help is clearly needed in Houston now, and the need will continue for weeks and months to come.
Perhaps this spirit of rescue will seep into our public discourse and become an inflection point for a change of tone in our politics.
In the meantime, everyone: Prayers, please.
For Lauren, for Houston, for all of us.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com and 423-757-6343.
