…I get it. I understand we are dependent on nature. I understand we’re a prideful civilization that thinks it can simply remake nature to suit us. I understand that we need reminders of this from time to time. Really, I do. I do.
Now please call off the hurricanes.
This is spooky. We’ve never had to worry about hurricanes this early in the year. Moreover, of the three named storms that have already hit, two came very near us, and this new one is presently headed straight for us.
Prayers appreciated.
–Maclin Horton
we’re praying, don’t worry!
Prayers that all went well.
At least you get fair warning; here in the Midwest we have tornados, which we get warnings, if at all, in a matter of minutes, often just a siren as the thing touches down….
As someone who has gone through several hurricanes here in South Carolina, one of which destroyed our family home, I second Daniel’s comments. Hurricanes I can deal with. Tornadoes are much scarier to me.
As the Elephant storms towards Maclin Horton, picks him up in his trunk, slams him down into the earth and proceeds to turn Maclin into gooey dirt road kill; Daniel Nichols from the comfort and safe distance of his porch while sipping a very large martini writes “at least you got a fair warning” “Just be glad it wasn’t a viper like we have in our parts that kills in seconds from ambush.
Maclin knocked to his senses by Daniel Nichols comforting words, thinks, “gee Dan good point, I feel better already”
[laughter]
Actually we have tornadoes/vipers here, too, although not as frequently as in the Midwest. Where I used to live, 300-some-odd miles north of here, they were very common. So I’ve had plenty of experience with both and wouldn’t particularly prefer one to the other. It’s kind of like the difference between a terrorist with a backpack full of explosives and an invading army. Tornadoes are, as you say, sudden and very destructive in the spot where they hit, but they don’t usually cover much ground. I was once close enough to a tornado to hear it (about half a mile away) and it was a most impressive sound: I had the image of a freight train with cars a hundred feet tall. I heard this sound more or less simultaneously with a voice on the radio saying a tornado had been spotted about twenty miles away.
But anyway: Hurricane Dennis weakened significantly before landfall, and then, happily from my point of view, took a little eastward turn, so ended up being pleasantly anti-climactic. The only damage I sustained was two stings from the wasps that were nesting on the back of the chair on my brother-in-law’s porch from which I was watching the wind and rain.
I grew up in east central Mississippi, and we had plenty of tornadoes. I don’t know how we compared to the Midwest, but there were enough that some people had thought it worth their time to build storm pits. (Houses in MS do not commonly have basements.)
Maclin, I’m glad you escaped the worst of the weather. Wasp stings are bad enough.
now that we know you’re well and safe (for which we’re glad, oh yes, precious, we are)
–aren’t storms beautiful?!
Suzanne–
I grew up in north Alabama, almost in Tennessee, and those storm shelters were very common there, too. There and then, I should say. Don’t see them as much anymore. Partly to do with better construction, I guess. I used to see them a lot near the kind of house that was common then, a relatively flimsy wooden box on brick piers, open underneath. Very easy for a tornado to pick up and slam to the ground, no doubt. Although nothing much survives a direct hit by a strong tornado.
anti–
Yes indeed. If I had nothing to lose I would probably risk my life to watch every time a hurricane came. If I had the leisure and money I could easily be one of these guys who chases around the country getting as close as he can to big storms.
I don’t drink martinis, Franklin; actually I was sipping a bourbon on ice…I wouldn’t prefer tornado or hurricane, but at least the only evacuation for tornados is to the basement, not a regional flight, which in itself must be an ordeal.
Actually I loved storms and when younger would climb pine trees during a storm for the ride. Or sit outside and whoop. Now that I am a father, they worry me and I can’t enjoy them anymore.
Last summer my two older boys, Tom Storck and I drove through a hellacious storm, with transformers blowing up around us like fireworks, horizontal rain and sirens blaring, with no place to take shelter. It was an experience I would have thoroughly enjoyed when younger and single. With two scared little ones in the back seat it was not at all fun…
as a reckless single twenty-two year old i must say…you sound like amazing fathers. my highest regards!
give me earthquakes, any day. I know what to do in an earthquake!
I didn’t think you could do anything in an earthquake?