Life After Nexcom

I have been watching the Hurricane Isabel hit the east coast all morning. I know exactly how those people who are down on the water watching it feel. I too am a storm junkie. I LOVE storms, of all kinds. Wind, Rain, Snow, Hurricanes, Typhoons. I DO NOT like tornados though. When I was a little girl, we lived on Guam, and I remember living in a Quonset Hut, and I also remember my parents moving everything off of the window sill, shutting the storm shutters, and pulling the mattresses into a pile on the floor where we would huddle. I remember Mom and Dad drinking and Mom crying. I also remember the thrill of the storm. The lights going out, the wind roaring, the shutters blowing in, THe hurricane lamps blowing out, the rain pounding on the tin roof. I LOVED IT. I was 5. 1951.

I lived in Hawaii also and remember sitting through several hurricanes. One of them hit dead on, and the palm trees in the front yard were bent waaaay over to the side. THe eye wall came right over us, and we went out side during the lull, and were amazed at all the damage. THen the back wall of the eye came over, and everything was bent the OTHER way.
It was GREAT!!

When we moved to the Pacific NW, I thought the hurricanes would stop. Nuh-UH!! only we don't call them hurricanes, just BIG WINDS! 1962 I was a Senior in High School, and we were at a Football game 45 miles away, when the winds hit. The football was kicked off and went right back over our teams heads and right over the goal posts. THat is when we knew we had a problem. The game was called, We were all put into the gym locker rooms, sitting on the floor shoulder to shoulder, waiting for the storm to stop so we could pile back on the buses and get home. About 4 hours later, we were escorted by the state patrol the 45 miles back to the Island, over the bridge, avoiding downed power lines the whole way. I remember the excitement, and the adrenalin I felt. Other girls were crying and scared, I LOVED IT!

When I was married, we lived in Virginia Beach and hurricanes hit there twice while I was there. My Mom was out, because I was 3 weeks over due with my son. She couldn't stand the thought of going through a hurricane without booze so she sent my husband to the Package Store on base (liquor store), for some liquid courage. He decided to sit the storm out at the Club next door, so He sat there getting Sloshed, while I, 9 1/2 months pregnant, had to deal with a panic'ed alcoholic mother with no BOOZE. I LOVED the storm, I hated my husband and my Mom.

Now I sit here during storms, hoping for the big blow, or the big dump of snow, with all of my Coleman lanterns full, my coleman stove at the ready, a closet full of dry wood, kindling chopped, matches ready, and enough food that can be easily cooked over the stoves on hand. Water jugs full, plenty of flashlight batteries, the radio loaded with fresh batteries, and the emergency scanner on and fully charged. I LOVE them.

I am hoping we have a few really good storms again this winter. I won't have to go to work, I can stay home and enjoy them. I can go out and see the damage, and marvel at the power of nature.

I know, I'm sick...