Dear Fellow Floridians,
Like many of you, I’ve watched approaching hurricanes with anxiety and dread. I’ve turned on the local weather every few hours. I’ve prepared to the degree I can prepare. And like you, I’ve seen storm warnings that didn’t materialize. So as Hurricane Matthew churns its way through the Caribbean Sea, I wonder, what will happen this time?
I remember Hurricane Charlie in 2004. My daughter drove to Orlando when forecasters predicted the storm would make landfall near Tampa. Charlie surprised everyone when it missed Tampa, but passed through Orlando. We never really know what is going to happen until the storm is closer. Hurricane Matthew has that same kind of unpredictable nature.
So fellow Floridians, instead of worrying, let’s try to relax and think of positive things associated with hurricanes. Since we have the opportunity to survive without power, we won’t be dogged by political ads on TV. Without hot water, or maybe even any water, we can have bad hair days and no one will care. We can have romantic dinners of cold canned food by candlelight. After the storm passes, we can grill all the meat that defrosted in the freezer, and invite our neighbors over. We just need to look on the bright side.
All that wind and rain is good news for roofers. Building supply companies all over the country will benefit. Downed trees provide work for tree removal companies. Local stores benefit from the sale of bottled water and batteries. A good hurricane can stimulate the economy.
Surfers love the high waves that only a big storm can provide. The storm surge can dredge up sunken treasure from pirate ships. Gold might even wash up on shore. A hurricane can deliver great finds for beachcombers.
Teachers and children love vacation time from school. Power outages encourage old fashioned activities like reading books, drawing, and writing.
During the days prior to a hurricane’s arrival, local weather reporters become big celebrities. This is their time to shine. They stir up the drama and excitement! Today I tuned into Channel 13 to see a weather reporter predict the wind speeds of Hurricane Matthew for early Saturday.
I hate to say this, but it looks like we’re doomed!
Buzzards glide in a cloudless sky; rock squirrels hurry on the ground.
The Sunday lunch dishes have been cleared away and my family sits in their assigned seats at the dining room table. Once again, Donovan’s soft familiar voice singing, “Try and Catch the Wind” floats through the room. The box is opened, the board unfolded, and the dice is rolled to determine who goes first. We are preparing to play Ticket to Ride USA, a board game created by Days of Wonder. My family just can’t seem to get enough of this game. It’s a weekly ritual.
Every Sunday each family member uses the same color of train cars. Like I said, this is a weekly ritual! I will refer to each player by color to protect their identity. As in most families, each player’s personality influences the way they perform. Player Blue is the rule stickler, always at the ready to consult the rule book. Player Red complains whenever she is blocked and suggests we need to change the rules. Player Red also apologizes profusely whenever she blocks anyone, but I wonder if she really means it. Player Yellow usually keeps more destination tickets than she is capable of completing, and loses more often than anyone else. Player Black takes the most risks, and they usually pan out in his favor! His performance amazes everyone because he is always consulting his cell phone and looking as if he’s not engaged in the game.
Have you ever stopped to think about how many lists there are in the world? I’ll begin by listing a few of them.
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