Thanksgiving after Harvey: Celebrating the holiday in an unconventional way
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Thanksgiving is tomorrow and we know that families impacted by Hurricane Harvey will be dealing with the holiday in not so normal circumstances.
The Thanksgiving break announcement is written proudly on the white board in the Gonzales household. It's a sign of some normalcy after what they, like so many flood victims, have been through.
"You never expect water to come in and wait to be rescued," Velia Gonzales said.
With some routine tasks, there are also some not so normal experiences.
"Right now, I don't have a microwave," Gonzales said.
"There's three air mattresses lined up in a row. There's plastic ware and paper plates and small appliances to get by, plus charcoal for the grill if needed," she said.
The family chooses not to focus on what they don't have.
"I am not going to have a Thanksgiving in here. It is impossible to have it in here," Gonzales said.
She doesn't have a stove or oven, no cabinets or a pantry to store their food. No privacy, yet. It's hard with two teenage girls, but the walls are coming soon. It's a slow process.
"It's kinda shocking because we have never done this before," Gonzales said. "We have been like this for three months. A lot of people think Harvey is over, but it's not over."
This Thanksgiving, while they don't have their home back, they are thankful they are together.
"We have been coming together, and we have been close, close and closer," Gonzales said.
