The Puckett family has owned the property since the 1920s, and it was hit by two storms: one on Memorial Day weekend and another in early November. Their Thanksgiving festivities this year looked very different as a result of the fallout.
“We had 15 trees go down, and we were very fortunate, though, that none of them hit the houses. We had one that landed right by my house and broke the pergola in the backyard,” Diane Puckett, who owns the property stated. “I said, ‘Wow, we missed that one,’ but I had them come out and look and the roof needed work and sustained a lot of damage, especially from hail.”
Diane claimed that even more damage was done by the storm in November. When Diane’s neighbor stopped by to see how they were doing, he informed them of the damage.
“He goes, ‘Well, your front porch is gone, and there’s all of this had been damaged, plus the south side of the building too,'” Diane stated. “That’s when we realized the gas meter had been broken and it was spewing gas. It was a direct hit on the south side, so it took all the boards and the siding off the south side. And our barn is in really bad shape because it’s just metal.”
Even now, the Pucketts can’t stay in their house. The family has had to adjust to having no gas, only partial electricity, and significant damage to the walls and roof.
“We’re rolling with the punches, but you know, it has been a sort of a different type of holiday,” Diane stated.
This year, instead of spending Thanksgiving together at the house, the family is splitting up and spending the holiday at various friends’ homes.
“All of our traditions are all encompassed in that home. And so to not be in our home this year is definitely a strange and saddening feeling to not be where we usually are,” Sally Puckett, Diane’s daughter stated. “We all have our own traditions, and ours started the morning at Grandma’s house watching the Macy’s Day Parade. It was very important to us, so we did start the day off with that at the rental home that we’re staying in.”
The family is nevertheless upbeat in spite of the difficulties.
“Just knowing this house for my entire life, knowing it as the safe place to come home to, it just brings a lot of emotion,” Katie Wilson, Diane’s daughter stated. “What I just keep in my heart is gratitude and being able to be here for my family and help in their time of need.”
Breaking out the unique plates that have been passed down through the years is the family’s favorite custom.
“The special dish wear that we always [use], the special plate for the turkey, getting to say grace, and say what we’re grateful for,” Wilson stated. “We’ll still say grace. We’ll still be grateful. It’ll just be a different location and with different friends and family.”
Breaking out the unique plates that have been passed down through the years is the family’s favorite custom.
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“We always have to get the nice china out on Thanksgiving,” Sally stated. “That was always very special because we got to see those pieces and talk about the memories and how many generations have used these dishes.”
To aid in the healing process, the family posted links to their Amazon wish list and GoFundMe.
