Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 19, 1994 TAG: 9402190093
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MELISSA DEVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But Alvertie Montgomery, who lives in a four-room house atop a hill in Indian Valley, is making the best of the situation.
"I'm doing just the best I can - which is pretty poor," said Montgomery, who has been without power for nine days. "You can't wash, you can't cook . . . it's pretty tough."
The woman has had skin cancer, which took some of her left ear, a heart attack and suffers from arthritis. She cares for two of her seven grown children: Cindy, 35, and Zula Mae, 46. Both daughters have cerebral palsy and use wheelchairs.
"I want us to stay here just as long as we can. Together," she said. "Everything's pretty messy around here, but it's just what we have to live with until we get water and electricity."
Montgomery's son and daughter-in-law have been checking in on her every day, and the neighbors have sent up hot dogs for them to eat.
Montgomery said she has not checked about the power lines; she figures the lights will come on when they come on.
"They flickered on and off last night, but they're out now," she said.
Besides, said Montgomery, "I'm almost 80 years old. I remember those days when we didn't have power at all. I'd be used to [not having power] if I didn't get so spoiled by it in the first place."
Montgomery has a wood stove, which keeps the house plenty warm, and her son brings her water to wash clothes. She has fashioned a makeshift clothesline above the stove in the kitchen.
"We don't have nothing fancy, but we like it," she said. "It's not a mansion, but it's a mansion to us."
by CNB