Thinking of Iowa City

The recent severe flooding in eastern Iowa has added a bittersweet quality to our move. The three of us are thrilled to be living in and exploring our new city. Eastern Iowa is struggling, however -- every day we get e-mails via our still-active U of Iowa accounts requesting volunteers for sandbagging, help accommodating hospital workers who can't get home, and advice on shutting down offices that may be evacuated and inaccessible for weeks. In many ways we feel like we should be there, helping with sandbags and in the hospital. Last night we stayed up late, helplessly looking at photos and reading news stories of the damage and disruptions. Although we can't do anything from where we are now, our thoughts are with everyone who's fighting the rising waters in Iowa.