She's lived in the same area for more than 50 years. She never had a problem with flooding, until '96. But, she rebuilt, and vowed to stay.

But this time it was worse. I couldn't believe how much mud, bacteria, and perhaps raw sewage, had seeped into her home. It was two feet thick. We had to tear the whole place up. Carpets, clothes, floors, furniture - anything touched by the muck was thrown out. Our pile must have been 6 to 7 feet high, and that's not counting the couches and other wooden furniture that we put on the curb.

Every home on the block has similar piles. Worse yet, there are people driving through, looking for something for free. We had people come and ask if they could take the bookcase, or the couch or whatever, and yes, they would load up a bacteria-laden, mud-infested piece and put it in the back of their pickup.

It's incredibly sad. I, like others, have so many good memories of this place, and that town. So many holidays, summer trips, and family outings have been spent there. My memories will last, but the house may not.

I worry about Centralia, Chehalis, and all of Lewis County. Times have been tough in the last year as it is, with layoffs, and a tough economy. An economic blow like this could be another punch in the gut.

We, as journalists, and citizens, must also keep a close eye on the situation in the coming weeks. Was clear cutting, or growth along the Chehalis corridor partially to blame? Who was responsible for dike maintenance and supervision? How has the budget changed over the years for flood control?

But I did see one sign of hope over the weekend. A total stranger stopped by the house, which was cold from the lack of heat. He asked us if we needed coffee, and had cream or sugar.

It turned out the man lived on higher ground in Chehalis, and his home was untouched. He said he wanted to do something to help out, so he went to the coffee shop, and came to the flood-ravaged neighborhood. It was the pick-me-up we all needed, and proof that sometimes, small gestures can do a lot during the toughest of times. To that man, I say thank you.