All along the East Coast, newscasters, seemingly innocent of irony, are firmly planted on windswept -- and I do mean wind swept -- beaches earnestly urging everyone to follow the goodsense advice of government and leave. Governor Christie (of NJ) actually said "Get the hell off the beaches." It must be true. It was on all the newscasts. "Hell." On television. The president has cut short his vacation by a whole day. Things must be serious.
Bridges will be closed so
Shelters have been established for people and their pets, however. Hospitals and nursing homes have been evacuated. Under it all is the unvoiced roaring of "I'll be d****d if this will be another Katrina." One hopes that that hard lesson was learned.
I have food and cat food, bottled water and duct tape. Batteries, flashlights, and a radio. Candles. Kitchen matches. A pump and a sufficient length of hose. Gas in the car and some cash. Two thick, unread novels. Something new on the design wall, if the studio doesn't flood. I charged the cell phone battery and I still maintain a land line, because usually when the power goes out, the land lines are only things still functioning. (Feel free to call, I'm pretty sure I'll be home.) I am making block ice for the refrigerator and will fill the bathtubs with water. As of July, and for the first time in the entire history of the house, there is insurance. I am grateful I took down all those trees last year.
I have a couple of yard things to do tomorrow and then I'll be as ready as I can be, but I don't trust the integrity of the house to withstand the "unusual weather we're having." (Same film as above. Anyone?)
And, yes, I am a little scared about it all.
More than I want to admit.
Batten the hatches, full steam ahead.
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