Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Go Away, Emily!

                                              

We are still in the Carolina's and we are not heading back to the Gulf Coast until Friday. We heard from a few of those who stayed behind that Dennis was not as devastating as it was expected. A lot of areas, including where we live,  already have their electricity, water, cable, and phone services restored.  

We might have to turn back by the time we get there though because Emily is out there and seems bent on visiting the Florida Panhandle like her cohorts. These Hurricanes must talk to each other and have this fascination about vacationing in our backyard. The Panhandle is very hospitable but its residents, like  us, do not like destructive visitors. We would like Emily to visit other places if she is bearing tornadoes, heavy downpours, and storm surges instead of gifts. We live in Sunshine State not Tornado Alley, Emily!!!  Just ranting and raving because there is not much we can do when it comes to the wrath of Mother Nature but can't we get a break?  Some people say that these hurricanes are a small price to pay for living in paradise. Yeah, right! We've been living on and off the Gulf Coast for the past twenty years and we never had these much of a problem until last year with Ivan. Granting that we were pretty lucky to sustain just minor damages to our properties last year and probably some downed trees this time, we are not ready to brace for another one.  We are not the welcome wagon for all hurricanes wishing to visit the USA. We actually felt guilty on the day Dennis strolled in our hometown because we were a few states away, soaking the sun at Paramount's Carowinds theme park. Every now and then we felt a twinge of guilt. There we were, riding the rides, watching the shows and taking pictures while those who stayed behind in the Panhandle were wracked by fear and anxiety. We felt sorry for those who can not afford to leave their homes, for sentimental or financial reasons. Our hearts went out to thosewhose homes are still damaged from Ivan's destructive forces and burdened by the financial, emotional and psychological agony inflicted by natural disasters. A lot of people on the Gulf Coast are yet to see their insurance checks from Hurricane Ivan. It is not easy to look at a home you lived in for decades destroyed and uninhabitable. It's heartwrenching to lose all the things you worked so hard to have. It's even harder to give up on pictures and other sentimental mementos gathered through the years. We know of people who are still battling the insurance companies for monies to repair their homes from last year's hurricane, are paying for mortgages in their uninhabited houses, paying for storage for their salvaged properties and paying for rent for a temporary domicile. 

 Why not move elsewhere,  away from this hurricane infested place, you may ask. We asked ourselves the same question. The bottomline is that despite all our angst about the hurricanes that visited and will be visiting the Gulf Coast area, it is still home to us. It is where both of our children were born. It gave us the constancy that is very much needed by a mobile military family like ours. It is the place we tell people we are from when we are on temporary assignments in domestic or overseas military facilities. It is the only place, aside from Hawaii, that we always yearned to go back to to raise our children and to grow old in.                                                                                                       

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

ya'll must be greats hosts down south since all the storms seem to want to vist your back yard. I Hope Emily misses you.

Anonymous said...

We stay here in this hurricane ridden place
because we know it's truly paradise and nowhere
else will do!
        *** Coy ***        

Anonymous said...

I hope Emily is very nice to you all in her path.  I cannot imagine.  California is home to me, the San Andreas fault line, as a matter of fact.  There are no warnings when earthquakes hit, most are mild, some... 7.2 Loma Prieta of 1989, was just 20 miles from my home.  Home is where the heart is, and we make the best of it.

Anonymous said...

Oh what a bother, isn't it?  Since Dennis wasn't such a menace, perhaps your luck will continue to ride with Emily.  I do hope so.  Here's hoping all goes well over then next few days.

Dona
http://journals.aol.com/delela1/BlueSkiesandGentleBreezes

PS  Loved, loved, loved the Italy pics.  Thank you for taking me there with you :-D

Anonymous said...

Very sad... Glad you are safe! Here we have earthquakes.
Beautiful pictures!
Have a quiet week!
Linda

Anonymous said...

glad you are okay!!! hurricanes, earthquakes...home is where the heart is.  -=)

Anonymous said...

I felt this way when we got hit with out third blizzard this past winter. I headed out to the gulf coast in February. Hope your home was fine in your well-timed absence.

Anonymous said...

I spent a lot of time riding horses along the beaches and in the scrub of the panhandle... it is a beautiul place and dear to me. Pensacola is one of the most peaceful places I have ever known, and watching small sharks at St. George's was a favorite activity. The people are kind there and there is a slowness to life that I appreciated.... always a moment for a glass of sweet tea and a kind word. Blessings to all of you and the land and water. judi

Anonymous said...

There can always be these freak-of-nature events whereever you live.  Whether it is earthquakes in CA, blizzards in MN, or tornadoes or hurricanes you can never ben completely risk-free.  So I guess we have to just take the bad with the good, huh? :)

Anonymous said...

Go away, Emily!  ...shu, shu...
My girlfriend who lives on the coast in the panhandle said her power was just restored last night, Tuesday night.  She didn't mention Dennis Damage, just kept gushing about how grateful she was to have electricity!
Home is where the heart is.
Be safe,
Judith
http://journals.aol.com/jtuwliens/MirrorMirrorontheWall

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your kind comments in my journal.  I had hoped that our state would be spared this summer.  I quess we just have to wait & watch...Mother Nature can't be controlled, unfortunately.  Sandi

Anonymous said...

It's a shame it isn't more affordable to live in Hawaii. My friend Beth (who lives in Boca) says that Floridians have a sort of perpetual state of denial. "Nah...that hurricane won't hit us. We'll be fine." ;-) Must be something in the water.

Anonymous said...

First I want to thank you so much for keeping me in your thoughts and saying such kind things...it really does my heart good......Where abouts do you live in florida? I am at the speedworld in christmas near the east coast...Just wandering and I am glad to hear that Emily did not affect you so much.
Again thanks for being so kind.
Ellie
http://journals.aol.com/jibaro6543/ELLIESCRAZYLIFE/

Anonymous said...

Hawwii is exspensive,

Anonymous said...

Hang in there!
V

Anonymous said...

I have often looked on horrified wonder as people stand where their storm ravaged home used to be and cannot for the life of me imagine how devestating that moment must be.

Anonymous said...

Hope all is well!!! Waiting for an update!! Be well!
Jodi

Anonymous said...

Here's hoping you are all spared and can return home very soon!  I still say I'd take the wretched white stuff over your extreme weather anyday. :o)

Tammy