The Deaver Erickson family, Hopewell Township
We sometimes don’t realize the depth of connection we have to our community until a crisis hits.
Better that we know earlier through our own gifts of time and care, but we are easily distracted, swept up in world events or the tasks and journeys of our daily lives as we leverage our successes to promote our children’s if we have them.
At times, I have lived so head-down on my race around the Pennington traffic circle to shuttle kids, shop, get to work and home again that I’ve remarked at how alone I feel.
Alone in spite of social media, the people we know through my husband’s local business, my two teaching jobs, our church, our sons’ schools, a dance studio and sports teams, frequently looking for some tangible proof of connection among us, of mutual care.
As I pass drivers on cell phones or am pushed to go faster than I want to on the circle, I wonder where we might find time just to breathe, to smile, to remind ourselves that we are in this together.
The morning of our house fire on April 25 was just such a gift. With great grace, our family and visiting friends walked away, our house didn’t burn to the ground, and we had insurance, which allowed us to focus on the suddenly apparent web of our community as so many of you enveloped us with your care.
From the police force to five volunteer fire departments; our neighbors, who on that chilly dark morning offered us water and shelter and who later plied us with food and clothes; our invaluable fire marshal; friends who gave therapeutic aid, raked with us through ash, did laundry, made dinner, found us a house rental, emailed and stopped by to say hello; colleagues who covered; our church, who provided food and a caring hands quilt; our son’s dance studio, who replaced his gerbils; the PTO, parents, teachers, librarians, nurse, counselor and administrators at Bear Tavern who donated time, empathy and gifts, who kept our kids busy and set up a GoFundMe site to which so many of you near and far generously contributed; the Rockies team, students, administrators and parents at Timberlane, including the cast of “Into the Woods,” who made our son laugh; township workers, all of you letting us know that you are near, that we will be OK, and more, that we cannot fall.
You have all reminded us as we fly through our day to take a deep breath and be grateful for the care we extend to one another, seen and unseen. For your kindness, for generosity without expectation, we thank you.
The Deaver Erickson family
Steve, Karen, Kolter,
Julien and Honey Bear
Hopewell Township
