Gustav is slowly but surely making it's way to the southern coast and part of me wishes I was closer. Please don't misunderstand me, I have nothing but fear and sympathy for all those who may lose their homes and possessions, but the other side of me, the romantic and wreckless side, loooooves hurricanes.
Yes, I have been in one, a doozie too. We were in Hurricane Gloria back in the 80s. Evacuated, tree through the garage, the whole nine.
I will never ever forget the feeling I had when my parents let me go out and play during the eye. I saw my first uprooted tree, so deep that if I crawled in the pit it left behind, my head would barely be level with the ground. To me it was fantastical with all it's gangly roots. And it was so calm outside. Dead calm. No sound. No wind. No rain. Just calm.
I love the chaos too. The wind whipping, the trees cracking, the rain pouring and the nervous dogs in the house. Mother nature has completely taken over and there's not a thing you can do about it but wait...and wait...and wait. You are forced to be with your loved ones, and sometimes strangers. You are sharing an experience, and it's the most powerful experience the earth can produce. You are a teeny tiny part of something so awesome.
To those who are evacuating, including my good friend Alex, I hope they all are arriving at their destinations safely. I hope everyone who wanted to leave was able to this time. All I can do is hope for them. And while I'm doing that, I will sit back in awe at what nature has created. What more can we do for now?
G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria!
My memories of her are not the same. I hated the wind. Dreaded going back after evacuation to see what she had wrought in our absense. And then the days without power and the constant sound of chainsaws.
It was sort of a party when we were out of harms way, but I was gritting my teeth and hifin my eyes while you were out during the eye. I'd dealt with some big earthquakes, but the storm was a new experience and I had no idea what to expect. I wa ssure you and your brother would end up in Kansas.
Well that's understandable! I imagine I feel the same way about hurricanes as you do about earthquakes, although I do really want to experience an earthquake too. I have a feeling I would love it as much as you do. I want to see the pavement rolling!