WAITING AND WATCHING

    

     Hurricane Sandy’s path is slated to take it right through the backyards of two homes occupied by our family members including sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and a mother-in-law. 

   We are very worried about what lies in store for them and won’t sleep easily tonight. If their electricity goes out we will be in the dark as to how they are.

     Judy and I experienced Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and went without electricity for a week. It was like being back in basic training in the Army.

   I remember how uncomfortably hot it was in the house without air conditioning. Our cell phone was out. We used up some of the frozen meats in the freezer by cooking on the barbecue grill but a lot of food had to be thrown out. Often I had to get up at 5 in the morning to search for a line of cars at a gas station, hoping it would open later on. I don’t know why I needed gas because there were very few places open. During that week if you saw a long line of cars you just got on it. 

    We did find an International House of Pancakes that was open on the fourth day but the wait was an hour and a half. I refused to wait. We left but went back in an hour because we couldn’t find any other restaurant open. Judy was not too pleased. 

     I recall getting on a long line and waiting hours to get a few bags of ice and a box of food.  There was tremendous damage to trees all over Boca but we were spared. 
    The one frightening experience happened during the first night when gale force winds blew open the two glass and wooden doors in the courtyard. They were about to break loose and send glass chards whizzing into the air.  We took a flashlight and pushed out into the wind, it was like being in a wind tunnel. It took all of our strength to close the two doors and put a heavy rod through the handles of each door to hold them in place.

    The lucky ones in Boca got sick and had to by taken by EMS to the hospital, which was the first place to get wired up. At least it must have been cool in the rooms and they also had food. I know hospital food is not exactly rated 4 stars, but compared to the stuff we received in the free box of food it would have been a big improvement.

    At the end of the ordeal I ordered a generator. It cost a fortune and we haven’t turned it on yet. The same fate befell the portable butane two-burner grill.
      We hope and wish for the best for our kin and for all the other families that lie in harm's way.