Hurricane Idalia 2023

Hurricanes have been a no-no topic around my niece since childhood. Her fear of weather developed around six or seven years old, and since they visited Florida in the summer, we steered clear of the trigger word. 

That has stayed the same since she entered adulthood--until this visit. 

Hurricane Idalia's path was coming straight for us, and in anticipation of that, our airport was closed on the day my family was to fly home. No way to hide that.

My niece had not brought her work computer, had many wedding photos to edit, and the news was nothing but doom and gloom. We did our best to assure her, and when no one in our neighborhood began boarding, she resigned herself to the fact this was happening. Oh well.

The family likened the hurricane panic to the brutal snowstorms they get in northern Indiana. We bought some snacks and ensured we had plenty of water, but we continued with tourist activities. There isn't much else to do until the day it strikes.

And it didn't happen.

We received wind and rain in our immediate area, but nothing like the flooding they got farther north and south of us. The poor Fox Mercantile got hit hard. Their Instagram reported flooding in all the rooms, but they'd prepared and saved the merchandise. Tarpon Springs, where Darcy and Gabby had been two days before the hurricane, also got hit with the street and shops flooding. Our local beach took a hit with the wind, and the storm surge and high tide wiped away the beach access walkways and stairs.  

Susan and I walked the beach the day after, photographing the sea creatures we'd have never seen had it not been for Idalia. 

Then, we enjoyed the three extra days they got in Florida.

Hurricane Nicole 2022

Hurricane Nicole roared in late. The season runs from June 1 to November 30; by then, we usually believe we're safe. Thankfully, like Ian before her, Nicole weakened and missed our area. We had a lot of rain and wind and got another pruning of our oak tree. 

My pineapple plant loved it. I swear the thing doubled in size. 

Let's hope this is the end of the 2022 season. Maybe by June 2023, I'll be prepared. 

Quarantine day 154

There is nothing new here at Quarantine Bluffs that I haven't written before. We're still staying safe, wearing masks, social distancing, staying out of restaurants unless we pick up food. It's a choice, and all four of us are believers in doing so. When I get down in the dumps watching my friends and family vacation, fly, eat in restaurants, etc., my kids rein me in--Mom, why take the chance?

This brings to mind several times when I have taken chances--times when I've walked away unscathed and others when I've suffered terrible consequences. It's the latter where I've always asked myself why. Why did I take that chance?

People tell me they aren't going to stop living their lives, and I think they mean they aren't going to change their lives for a pandemic, but I've opted to make a few in living mine--for right now. That annoys people--I hear it in their voices, and I read the comments and postings on social media--and I get it. It's a damn inconvenience, this virus.

But I don't want to be asking, nor do I want my daughters asking why I took a chance.

**

I lost another friend this last week. He was 56 years old. I had just mentioned him the previous day. My heart aches for his parents, his wife, and his son.

We have several storms brewing in the Atlantic, and the experts are warning Florida. I feel very inadequate in preparation for a positive COVID test, let alone a hurricane.

Daughter #2 heads back to college next week. It's made us all anxious.

Isn't it about time for unicorns and rainbows?

Hurricane prep

Hurricane season starts in the summer, but the prime months are September and October. In Florida, hurricanes are a way of life, and we all know the drill; stock up on supplies, check the generator, have plenty of gas, board up if necessary, field calls from the northerners, and check-in with the locals to make sure we haven't missed essential items.

I recently called my friend, who lives in the middle of the state. Thank god I did.

Me: "My problem is that we now have the water cooler, so I have to buy the gigantic water bottles that go on top of that thing. Since I'm not supposed to be lifting anything heavy due to medical reasons including currently only having one arm, this is posing to be a problem because the husband won't want any more jugs than what we already have."

Sharon: "Which is how many?"

Me: "One full and the one that is on the cooler now. It's almost gone. I'm not buying water bottles due to the damage those babies are doing to our oceans, so this is a huge problem for me. Even if I did buy water bottles, I'm not supposed to lift those things either."

Sharon: "I'm not even buying water. I bought bottles of wine. You can lift those, can't you?"

Problem solved.

Sadness - Hurricane Gustav

It is hard to rejoice about Hurricane Gustav turning away from Florida and our area when I know somewhere someone else's life will be uprooted and torn into shreds. I'm feeling very low.