By Sara Martin
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Power outages and 145 mph winds are no match for Lois Roddy.

Roddy moved to Eagle’s Trace just two weeks after Hurricane Ike devastated the Gulf Coast.

"I was in the middle of sorting through items at my old house right before Ike hit," says Roddy, who was just 15 days away from her scheduled move to Eagle’s Trace. "Then Joan Winkler, an Eagle’s Trace resident, invited me to weather the storm at her apartment." Knowing Eagle’s Trace was better equipped than her house, Roddy spent the night at the community.

No stopping her
Determined to stay in line with her timetable for moving, Roddy went back to her house even though the power was out and the rooms were dark. Using a Coleman lantern and a flashlight, she sorted out her belongings.

Susan Gaze, owner of Tender Transitions, a resource referred by Erickson Realty & Moving Services, came by Roddy’s house daily to help.

"I have several collections, including antique purses and enamel boxes from England," says Roddy. "My husband also had a collection of model railroad cars and engines."

With Gaze’s help, Roddy culled through her collections and decided what to keep, what to give to family, and what to donate.

"I gave my husband’s train collection to my stepdaughter," says Roddy. "She wants to buy a condo and is hoping to fund the down payment with proceeds from the sale of the trains."

For keeps
After the power came back on, the moving company packed up Roddy’s remaining collectibles and moved them to her apartment at Eagle’s Trace.

The pieces she opted to keep have a place of honor in her new home.

"I have two antique bowls from my great-grandmother and grandmother and a carnival glass punch bowl from my great-aunt on display where I see them every day," says Roddy. "It makes me happy to see them and think of my family."

Roddy is pleased with the end result.