This Can't Be Happening
Last year in Orlando we had our butts kicked over and over as we sat in the crosshairs of one major hurricane after another. Shortly after the first 'cane struck, Haley and I were driving around, staring at downed trees and signs and power lines, creeping through intersections with dead traffic lights, looking for someplace to buy gas and ice and water.
"I can't believe we are out searching for water to drink. How is this possible?" Haley wondered.
"Well, it's nothing people haven't had to do before, or are still having to do in other places, every day," I said. "Think of it this way: we're living like the people in 'Little House on the Prairie'. . . except we curse, and have AmEx."
So here I am in Tallahassee, feeling safe, and the FIRST storm of the season, Arlene, is heading RIGHT THIS WAY.
I would have been perfectly happy to let last year's hurricane season fade to a bad memory, but oh no.
I had taken on a ridiculous teaching load (4.5 courses in addition to my regular job) to help finance my move to Tally, telling myself that I could manage it if nothing went wrong. Then we got hit with three hurricanes. Oy!
"I can't believe we are out searching for water to drink. How is this possible?" Haley wondered.
"Well, it's nothing people haven't had to do before, or are still having to do in other places, every day," I said. "Think of it this way: we're living like the people in 'Little House on the Prairie'. . . except we curse, and have AmEx."
So here I am in Tallahassee, feeling safe, and the FIRST storm of the season, Arlene, is heading RIGHT THIS WAY.
I would have been perfectly happy to let last year's hurricane season fade to a bad memory, but oh no.
I had taken on a ridiculous teaching load (4.5 courses in addition to my regular job) to help finance my move to Tally, telling myself that I could manage it if nothing went wrong. Then we got hit with three hurricanes. Oy!
posted by Kathy at 6/10/2005 05:02:00 PM
4 Comments:
Ta, bro, but even if it's a direct strike it won't be bad, I'm sure. What I fear is the inconvenience: no electric power to write and print my assignments; expending time worrying about the necessities that we so take for granted, etc.
I just talked to Haley and she said she truly dreaded a repeat of last fall and could barely contemplate it. "But I remind myself that there are people who lost their homes and are still in temporary shelters," she said. That put it in perspective.
But I can still whine, can't I?
. . . .listening to quarreling relatives/unceasing rain. It simply hasn't stopped for over 36 hours. Nor will it unti Arlene/Amadeus has gone by . . .
You're right -- Arlene is aiming more for our relatives in Mississippi now. Tally is on the eastern end of the panhandle, closer to the . . . armpit of Florida. How's that for a lovely description: "I live in Florida's armpit."
I knew I had some purpose in life. Just call me "Ban Super-Dri". . .
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