Post Irene

So, we survived Irene. More than survived... our street was barely affected. We didn't lose power. We didn't flood. All in all, to us, it felt like a really long, boring rainstorm. It seems like it was a waste of my hard earned energy, spent on fear, stress, arguments on whether we should leave or not, and batteries we didn't use (Walgreens will be getting those suckers back). I know it wasn't like that everywhere. My heart hurts for the people who lost family members, homes, property, even those who "only" lost electricity. I am so, so grateful that we were mostly just bored and antsy.

On that note, taking into account our bored-ness and antsy-ness, here's a list of things I learned during Irene:

- It takes 17 bobby pins and 1 hair tie to create a suitable "hurricane" hairstyle out of my short, layered hair. Meaning, it's washed and pinned up in a manner that can stay that way for a day or two before it starts to look unwashed. In case I wasn't able to shower.

- I hated losing cell reception more than I would have hated losing electricity. Sad but true story.

- Living on a lesser hub of a "big city" sucks for the lesser hub. Every news channel was covering exclusively in the "big city". Guess what, news anchors? People who live 30 minutes outside of Norfolk are in the middle of a hurricane too.

- My kids are hurricane pros. A must have character trait on the East Coast.

- I'm not going to say that all pine trees over two stories tall should be cut down, but... well. Maybe they should be.

- I don't like not being able to get in contact with my family.

- Just because you live in a "low-lying" area, and your family doesn't, doesn't imply that they are safer than you. Mine all lost power, and ended up at my house the next day just for air conditioner and hot food.

- Low Country Boil, meatball subs, sleepovers, and Apples to Apples with my family are probably the most fun anyone could ever have since the Garden of Eden closed for business.



How did you all fare through Irene? What are your hurricane stories and lessons?

Calm

The air is stifling. Hot, muggy. Like a wet woolen sweater that gets stuck when you try to pull it over your head. Stepping outside makes my sandals condensate and my ribs ache from breathing in.

It’s calm. The warm breeze is riffling through the leaves, dry and whispering secrets that they won’t tell me. It’s all a trick, a false serenity to lull us before the storm.

And the storm is coming. I feel it, like I’m at the top of a roller coaster, peeking down in that split second before chaos happens. That second where you think, "I changed my mind--!" The second right before the drop.

I’m waiting for the drop, trying not to fear. Trying not to freak out for my kids’ sake, who are watching me. Trying to ignore that there’s a mandatory evacuation for my city. Trying to stay calm, to breathe it in and not out, to hold onto it.

“...I know Whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him...”

I’ve entrusted Him my children.

I've entrusted Him my family.

I’ve entrusted Him my home.

I’ve entrusted Him my fears.

And in return, He gives me calm, before the storm.

Buckling Down

Irene is coming. Are we prepared? Nope. Am I scared? Yep. I had about 6 different dreams last night, all involving dire consequences of the storm... flooding... month long power outages... my house being looted and someone stealing all my books... my kids screaming in terror as our windows shattered.

So this morning I went and did what every sensible person on the East Coast is doing: I bought batteries.

I bought Ds, and AAAs and AAs. And I bought a pack of mini LED flashlights for my kids.

And it all cost me $55. For batteries.

But at least now I'm prepared, right? 


What are you doing to prepare for Irene?