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Weathering storms

February 3rd, 2007 | Friendship, Just thinking 

Storm winds can take many forms. They can be of the weather, or they can be of the whether. Not all storms are without.

We learned some hard lessons here a couple of years ago when we had three hurricanes go through back to back. One was particularly devastating. We have always stayed, except for one year when we evacuated to friends’, watching the strength of the winds, prepared to go, and we stayed this particular time. But it was different. While we were used to going without electricity after a hurricane, and the heat can really get to you especially with the still air, we did not know what it was like to have no food in the stores (for about 5 days after the storm). A couple of the restaurants were able to open with limited menus. When I saw milk in the store finally, just a few bottles, I almost cried. No one took more than one, so there would be something left for someone else.

We had major intersections with no lights — they had blown to kingdom come. They set up temporary stop signs. It was really interesting to come up to an intersection with four lanes in each direction, plus left turns, and try to figure out when it was safe to go. Lights really speed the process.

We looked like a war zone. The only thing that made it a bit easier was that we knew there would be an end in sight, unlike a war. But most of us talked in those terms. Where would we get food if there were a war? or any of the other things we take so for granted.

One thing I particularly liked in China was that the lights count down: so many seconds until it would change. That made it easier to wait out the light, knowing when it was going to change. I thought that was terrific and wished we had it here.

I think that enters into weathering a storm. If we only knew when it would be over and we’d be back to normal, whatever that is, we could get through it easier.

Well, one of the after effects of the storm was the length of time it took to get things up and running…and fixing houses still a year later and more…and not being able to think straight for a period of time. I suppose PTSD in one form or another.

It’s very difficult to make decisions if you can’t manage a cohesive thought.

And it was hard to do without phones. Even cell phones were out.

In the restaurant, the first time we were able to get food (and our food had lasted just until then), the man behind us was quite put out that it was a limited menu. I was in awe that they had any staff or any food. We got to talking as I left the restaurant. He said he’d only just had his porch repaired from the last storm, and it came down again. He guessed he had a ‘disposible porch.’ I dunno, but it struck me funny, and I started to laugh, and the two of us got to laughing, because it really was funny, and his mood lightened considerably.

Sometimes you have to laugh or you’d cry.

Parts of FL have been declared a disaster from the storm yesterday. We were not included as it bypassed us, thankfully.

And I know parts of Missouri and other states are going through much the same with massive cleanups as a result of the ice storms.

We do have a concept of what it is like.

After the storms hit us, someone, an online friend/acquaintance, sent me some money to put to use where it would do the most good. While we could have used it, I passed it to a friend who was in worse conditions than we were. I think just the thought of someone doing such a thing helped her get through.

And yesterday I got a call from someone I don’t know, saying she was willing to drive over and pick up anyone I knew in need and put up air mattresses. She thought it was our area.

Never underestimate the power of friends or the Internet.

Karin

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