Hurricane Sandy
Yes, I survived Hurricane Sandy. It was a nerve-wracking experience. I had stocked up on pet food, food for myself, bought the requisite new flashlight and batteries as I do for every storm that comes through New England. There was nothing outside to be picked up by the wind. There was nothing to do but sit and wait. And pray. I live inland and my house sits on a little knoll so flooding wasn't likely. We were not due to get as much rain inland but we were told to expect the winds.
Oh those winds. It sounded like a freight train when it began and it continued. And continued. And continued. Television coverage was relentless and was making me more anxious by the hour. Something banged against the house, scaring my cat. Aimee jumped up and ran faster than most thirteen-year-old kitties can move. Friends called to see if I was alright. Facebook friends asked me to post updates if I had power. Frankly, it gave me something to do and kept me connected to the outside world, the friends around the globe who were hearing about the storm on the news. I also posted tips for pet owners who had to evacuate and would, of course, take their pets. A hard lesson learned from the storm in New Orleans where pets weren't allowed to go with their owners, many died, too many never were reunited with their owners and were adopted out after they had been saved by volunteers. Some of us wrote up a plan to assure that wouldn't happen again.
I lost power twice and during the power loss couldn't reach my wifi. Fortunately, the power came back quickly each time. I finally had to change the television channel to get away from the alarming coverage as the storm cut a path of destruction up the coast.
There was a haunting feeling to being alone during the storm, except for my cat. Frankly, it proved the old adage that misery does indeed love company.
The worst of it passed last night but the winds picked up again after midnight.
I have been lucky. And my prayers were answered - there was no real destruction to my house, no trees were lost in my yard. As we know, many people have not been as fortunate. I pray for them and their families, including their pets
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About Darlene
I was born at the Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts where Jack Lemmon made his appearance in the elevator many years before. My mother managed to make it all the way to the delivery room. It seems as if I’ve always written although my first career...
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Causes Darlene Arden Supports
The Marcia Polimer Abrams Fund for Canine Behavior Studies at the AKC Canine Health Foundation
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Thank heavens you're safe, Darlene
along with one or two other Red Room friends. We have watched in horror from our little island, knowing how vulnerable we are, too. The water table is now so high, pumping stations are in frequent operation on this stretch of coast and 2012 has altered quite a few areas of the UK map. The surface of the ground has become deeply uneven in the countryside where I walk Jack and some fields appear to have sunk several feet.
Victims of disaster have been in our prayers throughout this year. A couple known to my son were able to return to their flooded home recently after several months, only to have the same thing happen all over again. How do such people cope? Insurance companies will no longer cover them and their properties are unsaleable.
We can only be grateful for the evidence of a new humanity and caring for others.
Yes, I wish the news channels would stop riding on drama and whipping up fear and just stick to being plainly informative in this kind of crisis. The way they present modern life keeps us living on a knife-edge.
You are so right!
I don't know how people do it. But I do know that the best we can do is the best we can do. But it does truly feel as if we're living on the edge. I'm just relieved that the storm has passed.