Here is a cut & paste from Praise in reply to an e-mail I sent her. Here reply first, my e-mail second. She said I could post it here for her.

Helen ************ Oh H--,

tHIS MADE FOR GOOD CLEANSING TEARS WHEN i FIRST SAW IT EARLIER THIS EVENING. Ooops! Sorry.

I could not get to the water you saw, many miles away, a childhood refuge in such times, remembered now once you'd evoked it. But you reminded me that I re-found that stream and its long rambling ravine, a few years back, when I finally got brave enough to go look, in pilgrimage, to see if any trace remained.

So, the water you saw became our creek running along the driveway, freshened by an unexpected heavy winter rainstorm which has been dropping tons of water on our burnt (but thank-God-just-TARPED) roof over the addition... Never call a 70-year-old country carpenter out just to LOOK to see what's needed when rain is due. He's sure to go up there in the dark and climb over unsupported roof over vanished rafters... with two strapping sons... and do the job in the rain! Well, they put that roof on years ago; I guess he knows where he can let his grown boy-babies step.

I got out back just in time to see them take down the gallant farm bell from its massive and now-unsupported 6-foot post, unburnt rope and all, so they could tarp over that spot good and snug. Then, because I asked, they laid it to rest for now on my slate front porch floor right outside the window to my left as I write.

The bell.... my friend and favorite storyteller tells a story about a farm bell from his childhood, a bad emergency one day.... this one has always been a link to that time and season of my life when home was in the Illinois flatlands of cornfields. We tame house-tenants have used "our" bell to ring home wandering teenage sons for dinner... I am sure it has rung help from neighboring farms in many a past emergency. I like knowing that it sits in tolling range from my front door as we *speak*. I believe the clapper which fell out a few years ago was replaced by a piece of iron scrap Greg found in the basement, some milkbarn refuse rusting away that we honored by making it work in a new way! Or did he find the real clapper the next year in the yard, and put it back? I can't recall.... I'll have to look.

The bell belongs way high to echo from the bowl of hills that surround this still-worked farm... but until it can be restored to its place, I may just hang it by the door if the carpenter will go back up for the metal swing-bracket!

The water sound of the rain falling off our part of the house gives a very secure feeling as I let the day ebb in these words... a waterfall unimpeded by gutters comes as the roof reaches saturation, and it creates a loud snapping sheet outside the bay window that crouches dry under the roof overhang there. It makes the sound it always makes in such a rainfall, like we are fine....

And we have a saying here when people ask us for a commitment-- "God willing and the creek don't rise." When this creek rises a certain amount and runs at a certain speed, it means that the county is at near-flood at several points. Thank God the Red Cross disaster response for this very large, rocky-runoff-zone county is no longer ME, MYSELF, AND I. Now, when the creek rises, it goes back to being my friend who I sat beside while I watched the rabbits play in the shed.

~Susan

----Original Message Follows---- To: Susan Hinton Subject: Re: Hinton Family News Flash Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2000 11:01:06 +1100

Hi Susan,

I'm shocked to hear about your fire but so happy that you and Hardiman, the instruments, your pets etc are ok A near miss is a wonderful thing - when you get over the shock. It reminds you of what you hold most dear in your life.

I know that you are probably suffering already from Post Traumatic Shock Disorder (PTSD) after your recent negative work experiences, and hypersensitivity to pain and other traumas is a part of that so everything seems magnified a thousandfold.

To look up info on PTSD have a look at Tim Field's site on workplace bullying http://www.successunlimited.co.uk/PTSD/index.htm

Hang in there, find ways to get yourself back in balance - emotional, mental, spiritual and physical balance - including your adrenalin therapies. I will send you lots of Reiki.

I just had a feeling/intuition that you need to be near running water, maybe a creek or stream through a beautiful untouched green landscape. Just "drink" in all of it, get lost in it. The sounds and sight of the water and the surrounding landscape will help you to find your inner peace again, or at least to find out which direction to look for it again. The sound of the water can also help to stop your brain from overacting, thoughts going round & round in your head without stopping.

I know that you will reach your own inner balance again -- [deletion, SH] ... You are a determined lady and you have the love and support not only of Hardiman [Greg] and your nearest and dearest [family], but also of a huge number of Mudcateers, all cheering you on, including me.

Just picture us all dressed in cheerleader's outfits. What a scream!

Love & light,

H.