Sometimes it’s important to acknowledge the force of Mother Nature. She had a hissy-fit Friday night in my neck of the woods and I mean a real foot stomping, howling tantrum. For those of you who don’t live in the Mid-Atlantic region of the country, you probably read about this natural disaster. Those of us who call this region home, lived through it and I can tell you, it wasn’t much fun.
I spent the bulk of the storm sitting in my bathtub in the most secure bathroom of my house. Three strong walls around me, as I listened to the trees snapping and the debris being hurled against the house.
Hurricane force winds aren’t supposed to visit places like Potomac, Maryland. We have hard wood trees up here and they don’t bend in 80 mile an hour gales. Well, they do bend to a point, but then they snap and nothing good happens after that. My neighbors to the left found the top of an oak in their bedroom. Lucky they weren’t home at the time. My neighbors to the right had two huge oak’s fall over their driveway, missing their house by just a few feet. I had so many tree tops fall onto my driveway, there was no way out. I’m still peeling leaves and tree pods off my outside walls.
Power. How we take it for granted….over a million people have lost it in the middle of this horrible heat wave. No flicking the switch for a lighted room. No air conditioning. NO AIR CONDITIONING!!! What people would give for an ice cube around here….and no cold milk. I can not wait for the grocery stores to reopen with refrigeration, so I can stock-up on cold milk….one of my favorite foods!!
The clean up is on….Power crews from Florida, Texas, Oklahoma and beyond are caravanning to this region to help with repairs. They can’t get here soon enough for me.
Until then, have a glass of cold milk and think of me!!
July 12, 2012 @ 10:49 pm
Maybe the mother nature sent us the message that.. Lets take good care on it. So, its just upon on us if how we gonna responds on this message.. Keeping our nature preserve, keeping them away from miners.. 🙂
July 6, 2012 @ 2:06 pm
Just catching up on things–you were quoted in one of the AP stories, weren’t you??? Such nastiness but I am glad to hear you are all right, Laurie!
On a different note, I celebrated the “big 60” the other day. Many years ago, I wondered whether I’d get to see my sons grow up. They are now handsome, smart young men, 25 and 27 and I am grateful to still be here to share their lives with them. Of course we are aware that things such as this can change in a flash but for this moment, I will dance with joy and celebrate my continued presence on the planet.
Best to all!!
Betsey
July 3, 2012 @ 11:08 am
So glad the oaks didn’t hit your home (and sorry to hear your neighbours weren’t so lucky). May the cleanup be speedy, and here hoping you get that cold milk ASAP!
July 2, 2012 @ 10:46 pm
My stars! I am so sorry to hear of all the devastation.. so close to home! My family in MN has water surrounding there home and my parents just moved in with them. No running water, no toilets and happy it’s the lake water and not the flooding of the river! I can’t drink Milk Laurie, I will however enjoy a cold glass of almond milk for you! Love and hugs and hoping your AC kicks on soon!
July 2, 2012 @ 8:21 pm
I’m 90 minutes south of you but all around me it was a mess but the small town I live in has a terrific electric department so only minimal outages and thankfully I was not one of those. Working in emergency services however allows me to “share” in all of it. I hope you get your power on soon and have someone reputable to help with the clean up.
July 2, 2012 @ 6:48 pm
It’s FIRE and FLoods here in Montana. Do you think “Mother ” is trying to tell us something?
Glad you and your neighbors are all safe. We’ll hoist a glass (of milk) for you.
July 2, 2012 @ 6:25 pm
We got it, too. Fortunately, although we lost all our food, the power was restored yesterday afternoon. (I’m so grateful. Our dogs were beginning to lose it.) We still have no phone service, however. In all the years I’ve lived in the DMV, I cannot remember a weirder storm; the lightning was so intense and sustained. If you need a place to stay, just give me a holler.
July 2, 2012 @ 10:19 pm
Thanks Mo…Power trucks in the hood tonight…I might just introduce myself tomorrow and hope they take pity on me!!! Some of the neighbors have power and COLD MILK!!!