Not wanting to sound like a victim, but more like an adventurer, shall I count how many extreme natural disasters I've been through? Counting backwards: Hurricane Ike, evacuation of Hurricane Rita, Tropical Storm Allison, 4 major earthquakes in El Salvador and Mexico, draught and heat of 1980 and 2011 in Texas...I seem to be at the right place at the right time, except for Irene. I was almost there this time, but luck would have it that taking my son to University in the east is scheduled for a few days after Irene hits NYC.
Aunt Betty, from NYC, vacationing in the Jersey shore for the summer, didn't believe anything could happen in Bay Head. Her hosts said they will prepare for Irene by bringing in the outdoor furniture. I couldn't convince them that this is the real deal.
Karen, from NYC didn't take seriously my offer to fly to quake and Irene-free Houston while her house in the Village has 7500 lbs of steel scaffolding hugging the exterior walls.
I just realized why I'm glued to the TV and watchful of Irene: I've not processed the fear that gripped me, my family and my city as the 80 yr. old trees bent to the point of no return, as the wind created missiles out of the clay tiles on my roof, as the rain pounded on my windows and on the confines of my stressed mind.
I hope Aunt Betty doesn't have to experience this fear.
I wish Karen would just get out.
It's too late to tell you that you need filtered water for five days, and coolers full of ice for keeping food, as the power grids fail. Forget the duct tape, I still don't know what it's for. My solar flashlight was the high LIGHT of 8 days of total darkeness.
But I'm not too late in telling you to find the darkest place, furthest from the windows of wherever you chose to ride this monster out. Stay there and resist the temptation to look the beast in the eye. Stay, and if you know how to pray, pray.
Be well Richard in the Hamptons, Cornelia and Billy in Bedford, Karen in NYC, Aunt Betty in the Bay Head. I'll be watching, and praying.
