
I held my chihuahua in my left arm, my phone in my right hand, and snapped photos from the back of a flat-bed city dump truck. Moments later we rolled away from home with sixteen people and seven dogs. This happened five years ago on August 27th. Sometime in the next couple of weeks, I wrote about the hurricane and the flood, the rescue and shelter. I planned to have students write about their experiences and share mine.
I had considered blogging before. I think WordPress popped up in my Facebook feed. I investigated. Suddenly I had an account, and I posted That Time When I Met Harvey.
I’m not sure I foresaw five years of blogging, but here I am. And here you are. My posts wouldn’t mean as much without readers, and I’m thankful for you.

Many congratulations on your blogaversary!! Is it really five years since Harvey?? I vividly remember the pictures on the TV news! Wishing you every joy for the next – stress-free – milestone! 🙂
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It’s hard to believe, but yes, five years ago. Kind thoughts always appreciated. Merci beaucoup, BRG!
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You are so very welcome!!! 🙂
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Happy blog-iversary! It’s been almost 5 years for me too.
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Hi Ashley! Thank you. Blogaversary twins!
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Thank you for sharing with us these past five years. I have been blessed by many of your posts. 🦋
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Thanks so much, Bridget! I appreciate you for reading and encouraging me along the way. 🤍
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I’m so pleased that your five years has brought you to a much drier place and onto to WordPress too.
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Hi Paula! I will never forget having a shower and changing into dry clothes that day. Thankful for much!
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Love the back story on how it all began. 🙂 Congratulations on your blogaversary!!
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Thank you! Thank you! 🤍
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Congratulations, Crystal, on your wonderful blog anniversary and a hearty congratulations on getting through Harvey. 🙏🏽🌷🌷🙏🏽
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Thank you, Ellen. My mother always said, “Everything happens for a reason.” I realized throughout the aftermath of the hurricane—Our struggles strengthen us.
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They do. Your mother was right! Now congratulations to you on getting through horrendous times and on your lovely blog! ❣️
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I always love reading your blog, Crystal. Thanks for sharing with us.😊🙌❤️
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Thanks for your visits, Dwight. I love reading your blog, too.
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Happy bloggerversary! I’m sure you’re glad that Harvey and you have parted ways.:-)
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A bit presumptuous, that guy. Thank you, Priscilla!
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Congrats! Nice to have you here. 🥰💖🦋
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Thank you, Alaedin! I feel the same way about you. 🤍
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Wow! Time goes quickly. Congrats on the five years of blogging. I enjoy your writing Crystal and may the Lord bless you with many more years of blessing people through your words.
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Thank you so much, Manu! Your words go straight to my heart. 🤍
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Happy Blogaversary Crystal. What an event to stimulate blogging. Glad you are still sharing your thoughts. Allan
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Thanks, Alan! That first blog post was a tough act to follow, yet…🤍
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Happy blog anniversary, Crystal
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Thank you, Derrick!
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Congratulations on your 5 year anniversary
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Thank you, Kevin!
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Welcome
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Congrats, Crystal! Your blog posts make the blogosphere a richer place to visit.
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Thank you, Jane! I appreciate your kindness.
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Congratulations. Anne Lamott wrote about her father’s advice to her brother, who was struggling to start a book report, to take it bird by bird. When it comes to blogging, I suppose the advice is one blog at a time . . . and pretty soon you reach five years. Love reading your work. Happy Anniversary.
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Thanks, Brian. This is true. I’m not sure I could’ve predicted how long the blogging would last. I’ve definitely felt I might not post again. Somehow the posts keep showing up. I appreciate your encouragement.
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Congrats!
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Thanks, LA!
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CONGRATULATIONS on 5 years and what a harrowing experience. I’m so thankful you’ve overcome such obstacles and are where you are today 🥰
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I’m thankful, too! Many lessons learned from living in a La Quinta for ten months. 🤍
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I enjoy reading your posts. Congratulations on surviving five years on WordPress! Would you compare blogging to the flood?😀
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Hmm. Good question! I suppose both do make a person feel as if she is drowning at times! Thanks for reading, SWT!
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Congratulations 🙂
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Thank you so much! 🤍
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Congrats on five years. Isn’t it amazing how quickly time goes by?
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Thank you! It’s a weird mix of yesterday and forever ago.
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So true!
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Congrats on your fifth anniversary!
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Hi Rosaliene! Thank you for stopping by so often!
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It’s always a pleasure to stop by 🙂
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Congrats Crystal – I can’t believe Harvey was 5 years ago.
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Me neither. It’s just another blip on the timeline now.
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Thank you, Crystal! I clicked back to your original blog post and sloshed through your story. Memories of a much earlier hurricane in 1957, when I was a high school teenager in Pensacola, Florida, rushed in, seemingly around my ankles like the flood waters that not only spilled over the door sills but also seeped up through our wood floor boards. My sweet grandmama who lived in her cottage next door was afraid her bed would float right out to sea (the Gulf). She didn’t. Only the Adirondack chairs floated away until the fences blocked their passage. [I told the complete story in my memoir, “Roses in the Rain.”]
Congratulations on your five years of blogging — one blog at a time! I’ve enjoyed reading every one of them.
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Jo, thank you for so many visits and for commiserating with me over hurricanes. Those memories are impossible to forget. Your memoir is on my list. Thanks for that reminder!
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Happy blog-versary. Interesting to look back on events like that. I am glad you began blogging so we met and I can appreciate you.
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Hi David! Thank you for the appreciation! 🤍
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Lovely memory and can’t speak.enough of how time passes in blinks. Many congratulations Crystal
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I appreciate you, dear Narayan. Thank you.
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Happiness to you, Crystal, for reaching five years (and then some). Let’s party!
You click off the milestones in increments of five now. Soon enough, five becomes ten, becomes twenty…
Thanks for the years of wit, candor, hope and introspection. A full range of emotions and topics, none of them “typical.” That’s the secret to your growing success, actually, maintaining your public’s desire for quality, and supplying it in endless variety.
The future promises even more. Prepare your remarks for Year 25.
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And thank you, Keith, for years of cheer! Your thoughts always bring a smile—so full of hope. For me!
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Wow, congrats on 5 years!! That’s AMAZING 👏
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Thank you so much, GG!
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Wow! Bravo, Crystal! 👏🏻
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Hi Michele! Thank you so much!
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Congrats, Crystal!!! 🎊 🎉
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Thank you so much!
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It’s interesting to hear how my friends here on WP got started blogging. My site just turned four!
I enjoy reading your thoughts, Crystal. Here’s to five more years!🙏❤️
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Thank you, David! Congrats on your four! Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!
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Congratulations. Five years is significant. In fact blog years are like dog years so you’re really much older than five. Here’s to many more years of F+G=P+H
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That’s funny, Ally! Blog years like dog years. 😂 Thank you!
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I went back and read your well-written Harvey post. I’m glad it moved you into the blogging world, but sorry for the trauma and loss you suffered.
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Hi Linda! I’ve adopted Maya Angelou’s philosophy (actually her mother’s): I try to hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and be unsurprised by anything in between.
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😓
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Wow Crystal, happy blogging Anniversary, I actually thought this topic was about writing a blog for the fifth time but you were just narrating how many years you have been writing blogs. As for me, I have been blogging for 2 years started in 2020 and I absolutely love to blog about my passion which is men’s clothing! Wishing you a great blogging journey 👏👏👏
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Hello, Mthobisi! Thank you. I always love the milestones. Congrats on two years! Happy continued writing!
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Congratulations!!!
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Hi April! Thank you!
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Happy 5th blogging anniversary 🥳 🎂
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Hi Cherryl! Thank you so much!
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Seven dogs! I’m jealous.
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😂 You’ll soon have seven dogs, too, Rob!
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Well… we usually have two border collies… and since our oldest passed last year, we have been overcommitted and reluctant to add another. That, however, is due to change in a couple months… and we’ll be searching for our next “border collie rescue.”
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I understand.
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Congratulations on 5 years! That’s awesome. 🎈
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Thank you, Rebecca! Happy Sunday!
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Thank you for sharing!!… congratulations on your anniversary and thank you for sharing a part of your world and making the world a brighter place!!.. 🙂
Until we meet again..
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
(Irish Saying)
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Good morning, Larry! Thank you!
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Congratulations!!! I can’t imagine going through that.
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Thanks, Belladonna! I came through it okay after all! A good reminder when the next thing comes along.
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Good One👍
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Thank you! ✌🏻
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HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY!!! Happy to have met you here 🙂
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Thanks, Dr. G.! I feel the same. ❤️
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I read your post from five years ago. While I’ve never experienced a hurricane or a flood, I was totally flooded by the ordeal faced by your family and many others. Crystal, congratulations on your blog’s anniversary.
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Thank you, Richard! I’m thankful that’s behind us.
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Congratulations on this milestone, Crystal. 🌝
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Thank you, Suni! ❤️
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Super news Crystal. Happiness.
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Yes, dear Narayan. Thank you! Peace.
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Whoot Hoot Crystal! Five years, I think that was before I had wrinkles! Congrats my friend! 💕C
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💪🏻Thank you, Cheryl! Just when I think I’m about to run out of things to say, another crazy thing happens. I appreciate you more than you may realize. ❤️ As for wrinkles, I think mine multiplied in the last month or so.
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