Evening,
This morning, I arrived at her home to find her freezing and starving. I mean that very literally. She has been living alone in her home in East Rockaway, Queens since the storm. Pushing a month and a half. 39 DAYS. 39 NIGHTS. No family to take her in. No shelter to be found. Aside from 4 walls and a roof, 68 Waldo Ave hardly resembles a home. Shoddy electricity compromised by the storm/flooding. Working just enough to start a house fire given time, and to electrocute me pretty good when I put my hand on one of the light switches by the door, shooting pain up my arm into my shoulder and chest. Also, NO HEAT. Mind you, it was hardly above 30* last night and only getting colder. As I made my way to the door, I could hear her call out to me. "Mark, Im freezing!". I will never ever ever forget hearing that. Ever. How on earth are we allowing for people to live like this? It's so unacceptable. My stomach turns and my heart aches.
Ms. Cedeno is my mother's age, and like my mother, a woman I'll think fondly of and draw inspiration from, until the day I die. We come from completely different walks of life. I cannot begin to relate to the hardships she has had to endure in her life. Even before the storm, every day was a struggle for her to make ends meat and get by. Me, well lets be honest, I've had it easy. Despite our endless differences, she has quickly captured my heart.
After getting Ms. Cedeno in my car, wrapped in BC High sweatshirts, and eating plain turkey sandwiches, I was on a mission to find a warm place for her to stay. It was taking every ounce of me not to break down and cry. Why is an unknown 30 year old man from Boston the first person to take interest in this beautiful woman's well being in Queens?
7 hours later, after trips to City Hall and 2 FEMA stations spread out around Long Island, we were able to secure Ms. Cedeno warm shelter, a hot shower, and food. Throughout the day, I had the privilege of getting to know quite a bit about my new friend. She is an incredible woman, tough as nails, while possessing a beautiful smile. The smile became apparent each time I tried to speak spanish, Ms. Cedeno's first language. I think sometimes she was laughing with me, other times, certainly at me.
As I was saying my good byes to Ms. Cedeno at FEMA's HQ tonight, she embraced me in a big hug and called me her angel. I cried the whole way home.
Ms. Cedeno, you are my queen of Queens.
Mark/Chops
ps..I can't thank my partners in crime at NECHAMA enough. Your work inspires me to want to do more. Having you in my corner today, and everyday, means the world to me.
The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days.
This morning, I arrived at her home to find her freezing and starving. I mean that very literally. She has been living alone in her home in East Rockaway, Queens since the storm. Pushing a month and a half. 39 DAYS. 39 NIGHTS. No family to take her in. No shelter to be found. Aside from 4 walls and a roof, 68 Waldo Ave hardly resembles a home. Shoddy electricity compromised by the storm/flooding. Working just enough to start a house fire given time, and to electrocute me pretty good when I put my hand on one of the light switches by the door, shooting pain up my arm into my shoulder and chest. Also, NO HEAT. Mind you, it was hardly above 30* last night and only getting colder. As I made my way to the door, I could hear her call out to me. "Mark, Im freezing!". I will never ever ever forget hearing that. Ever. How on earth are we allowing for people to live like this? It's so unacceptable. My stomach turns and my heart aches.
Ms. Cedeno is my mother's age, and like my mother, a woman I'll think fondly of and draw inspiration from, until the day I die. We come from completely different walks of life. I cannot begin to relate to the hardships she has had to endure in her life. Even before the storm, every day was a struggle for her to make ends meat and get by. Me, well lets be honest, I've had it easy. Despite our endless differences, she has quickly captured my heart.
After getting Ms. Cedeno in my car, wrapped in BC High sweatshirts, and eating plain turkey sandwiches, I was on a mission to find a warm place for her to stay. It was taking every ounce of me not to break down and cry. Why is an unknown 30 year old man from Boston the first person to take interest in this beautiful woman's well being in Queens?
7 hours later, after trips to City Hall and 2 FEMA stations spread out around Long Island, we were able to secure Ms. Cedeno warm shelter, a hot shower, and food. Throughout the day, I had the privilege of getting to know quite a bit about my new friend. She is an incredible woman, tough as nails, while possessing a beautiful smile. The smile became apparent each time I tried to speak spanish, Ms. Cedeno's first language. I think sometimes she was laughing with me, other times, certainly at me.
As I was saying my good byes to Ms. Cedeno at FEMA's HQ tonight, she embraced me in a big hug and called me her angel. I cried the whole way home.
Ms. Cedeno, you are my queen of Queens.
Mark/Chops
ps..I can't thank my partners in crime at NECHAMA enough. Your work inspires me to want to do more. Having you in my corner today, and everyday, means the world to me.
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| MY QUEEN OF QUEENS, MS. EDITA CEDENO |
The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days.
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