Saturday, September 11, 2021

Larry





Well Larry, you did your best. You were rageful and noisy and tossed trees and poles into a tantrum and turmoil and disconnected our power lines, knocked out my daughter's road completely, and then you slithered off over the Atlantic never to be seen again until one of your brothers or sisters takes over the next hurricane.  Category 2 at Daughter's place as she is right on the open ocean. Interestingly, early yesterday she observed gannets from nearby Cape St. Mary's taking off in formation. I am constantly fascinated with those creatures who seem to know more about upcoming weather than we do.



The barometric pressure drop was powerful, I felt it in my head, as I always do, followed by a slight headache.

My power re-asserted itself for a couple of hours around 2.00 am and I got up and read my gripping library book - a rec from either DKZ or Jackie. And because I was raised in a large noisy family I could tune the storm out. At 4.30 a.m. it whimpered away, just as the power went out again and then I went to bed. No power for the entire morning but now it's back again, hats off to those workers that restore our lines and our sanity. 

In the aftermath of such powerful acts of nature, I am reminded of gratitude and what's important and what isn't. Family reaching out on the group chats, neighbours texting to comfort and commiserate. 

And how fortunate I am to be living here and not in Haiti or some other impoverished country surveying detritus and homes destroyed and how truly far more vulnerable and fragile their lives are.

Not much else to add. But there is a lot of damage which seems to be all under control in the cleanup. One woman on our local meteorological expert's live feed saw a large tree being launched from across her road and sail briskly off over the ocean. I'm sure there will be many stories to come. I do know at least one small town was evacuated due to the tides being so high and dangerous.

Noticing things: I love how, just now, how the GoBus driver for handicapped passengers went right into our building to wheel out a resident in her wheelchair and negotiate her carefully up the ramp and onto the bus. 

26 comments:

  1. I am glad you are safe and hopefully now have steady power.

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    1. Steady as she goes now Linda P after being so iffy throughout the night. I suppose stringing lines underground is far too costly but imagine never have to worry about power outages!

      XO
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  2. OK, here we have heat and forest fires and every single day I give thanks for air conditioning and an air purifier and the fact that I can stay home, stay inside, and stay cool.There are so many places right now that have it so hard. Life is a struggle for them. I am grateful I do not have struggles to survive and eak out a living.

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    1. Me to DKZ, I actually cried when the power came back on knowing that other places after such a storm would have to wait months, etc.

      We need these reminders of how actually privileged we are.

      XO
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  3. I am glad that Larry was not as destructive as many of his siblings. And yes, my heart aches for those who are hit hard by the weather - they are so often in countries/communities with very few reserves.

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    1. Exactly EC. That bus also brought it all into focus for me. I had created such reserves in case of power outages, bath tub full of water, hot water in flasks, oil lamps, candles. Items not even imagined in our poorer countries.

      We are so very fortunate.

      XO
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  4. Glad you’re okay, I did wonder how it was going to be.

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    1. Thanks Annie. I know you lived through Juan was it last year?

      Not a tree fell around us here, we are very fortunate. Other areas not so lucky. Daughter's road washed out so they are without fire and emergency services.

      XO
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  5. I don't know how I would cope without electricity now. I'd certainly be in a state of panic about my phone battery and tablet battery going flat. You were quite fortunate to not suffer too much damage.

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    1. Also elevator Andrew - I know you live way up. I kept all I could charged up and had a todo list of prep. Like filling bathtub so I could flush toilet. Also big flask of hot water, etc.
      XO
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  6. I assume there will be some considerable inconvenience for your daughter , I hope things are soon repaired.
    I'm glad you are safe.

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    1. Yes, she can't go to work Kylie but her employer will pay her which is great. Road is a disaster.

      XO
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  7. That's a good bus driver.
    I love the raging storms, but I'm glad I don't have to live through hurricanes.

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    1. Yes, hurricanes are a completely different story Kylie, very frightening.

      XO
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  8. So good you ride a storm so well. I wonder what I would do, though we have tornadoes, not hurricanes, and I am well trained and well versed what to do in those.

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    1. the wind is the worst, followed by the pounding rain and the drop in barometric pressure. I am reminded of how fragile we all are in the wrath of mother nature.

      XO
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  9. I am glad you are okay and have power restored. I hope your daughter will be okau and hats off to that bus driver.

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    1. Thank you E. I was so impressed with that bus driver, big smile on his face too, like no bother at all. Kindness is everywhere.

      XO
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  10. Nice to know that you are safe. It is also very heartening to read about people like the bus driver in your story.

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  11. I'm glad to hear you are safe. And kindness is always good to hear about.

    Larry seems like a most unhuricane-like name.

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    1. I know SAW, I don't think I've ever known a nasty Larry. It sounds so friendly, but then again they're running out of names, so many hurricanes we don't hear about.

      XO
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  12. I am glad that your power was restored so quickly. And what you say about Haiti is so true. I feel sorry for those people, and am grateful that I don't love there.

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    1. Sometimes we forget our privilege, Gigi, and forget to feel grateful in the face of some disaster where in the aftermath we still have our homes and cars and fridges full of food.

      XO
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  13. Thankfully we don't get storms of that ferocity in Northern Ireland, just strong winds that lower the temperature by several degrees. I can't imagine what it's like to have your house smashed to pieces and have to adapt to such a shattering loss.

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  14. Glad you coped well with the storm. Means a lot to have neighbors friends during such times.

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