Hurricanes

That's one thing I miss about the South.  Not the actual hurricanes, but the nervousness and excitement of watching the Weather Channel constantly to see whether you're going to be affected.  We've always lived inland enough that we didn't really have to worry, but there's something awesome and totally scary about a hurricane. 

We've been on the edge of them before and actually experienced one when we lived in Geneva, Alabama.  The rain, the wind, the trees down, all of it.  We had a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old and both worked, so we took them to daycare that morning.  I guess we didn't much watch the weather back then or didn't think it was going to be that bad.  We had to drive across a bridge, and I swear I felt it swaying.  We dropped the children off and headed back, but then we started to get really worried and turned around and picked them up.  I remember really objecting to going back over that bridge - twice. 

Before we got home, trees were nearly touching the ground and electrical wires were coming loose and flying around.  So scary.  I'm not sure why Mike drove us around back when we had a driveway in front.  We lived on a corner, so maybe he went up in the yard close to the patio door.  When I got out and started running with one child in my arms, I lost a shoe and had to stop and get it. 

The actual hurricane didn't seem so bad, but that was probably because it was my job to keep two toddlers corralled in the hallway while Mike stood at the window and worried about pine trees.  At one point, a neighbor called and said a tree was about to fall on one end of our house.  It never did, but it was close.

As bad as it was, it brings back sweet memories.  When I smell freshly cut trees, I think of that day and all the chain saw noises and that smell.  Of course, we were without power - and a long time, maybe more than a week.  We loaded up as much stuff as we could from the freezer and took it to Andalusia to our parents' freezers.  I guess there was no phone service either, because my boss showed up at my house the next morning asking (demanding ha) that I come in to work.  I had really been looking forward to a forced vacation, but I worked at Benson Wholesale which provided food to the Piggly Wiggly.  I think.  I'm really not sure what I did, except there was an office, and we did paperwork.  That's probably the reason we didn't go and stay with our parents. 

I loved cooking on the grill and making coffee on the grill.  It smelled so good in the mornings, and all the neighbors came together and actually visited with each other. I know it can't have been easy with no water or power for that long, but we did consider ourselves lucky and nothing like the damage from a lot of other places. 

When we lived in Georgia and North Carolina (far from the ocean), I would hope for some increased rain and wind, just enough to be exciting but not to scare me.  I'm so sorry for the people in South Carolina and North Carolina and wherever this latest hurricane ends up hitting.  I'm sitting here watching the Weather Channel just like it affects me. 

Today I have my 3-year-old hurricane for the day while her sister is at school.  They love to come to Mimi's house, but lately I think it's because of the chance to play on the pink iPad.  They'll do just about anything for 30 minutes on the iPad.  Scrubbing floors, washing cabinets, picking up toys.  We'll have to keep her busy.  I'm taking her with me to get a flu shot this morning.  She has to get her regular immunizations next week, and I'm kind of thinking she will see that I didn't cry - hopefully, I won't - and learn something, but I doubt it.  Maybe I'll get a surprise afterwards.  I'm getting the shot in the Bartell's clinic, and I'm sure she will want ice cream.  Maybe we'll walk over to Starbucks and I'll treat myself to an iced coffee instead, and she can get a treat there. Then stop by the library.  I love my life!

Emily is leaving to spend a few days with our friend Karen in Colorado.  We'll really miss her.  Tonight, we're having a sleepover at Mimi's house.  It's hard with two of them.  We tried it once, and they slept fine.  Me, not so much.  We'll try sleeping bags this time.

So, we're going to stay out of the house as much as we can until bedtime.  We'll eat out and go to a park if it's not raining.  Then we'll have hot chocolate and maybe watch a short video and have lots of stories.  They do really well if I turn on this lullaby video with shapes and colors and sweet songs.  Let's hope it works tonight.  I'll have the full job of getting them up, fed, and dressed for school.  I'm sure I'll come home at 9:00 and take a nap.