Me and Ike - Part I

Things are starting to get back to normal at our household. Many are still without electricity in our area so we are grateful ours was restored Monday night. Here’s a recap of how I viewed Hurricane Ike these past two weeks. After I started typing it up, I realized I am probably going to want to do this post in parts.

Part I - The “Not So Calm” Before the Storm – Last minute preparations were a challenge but also a bit interesting, if not entertaining. As I ventured through the aisles of almost empty shelves at the grocery store, I couldn’t help but notice some of the things people were buying. Because what we really needed to stock up on was in short supply (or non-existent) it seemed to me as if many of us were buying just about anything that wouldn’t spoil when our fridge and freezer stopped working. Too much junk food and not enough “D” size batteries. The bread and buns were gone. I happened to be standing in the bread isle trying to decide if I should buy tortillas instead when a seemingly over-worked bakery worker brought out about eight loaves of just baked multi-grain bread. I quickly picked one up, not caring that it cost nearly five bucks! In the blink of an eye, the rest disappeared, grabbed up by desperate shoppers. Thankfully, I only needed a few last minute things and was soon able to dodge the bumper carts to the check out isle. “Oh, yes,” I thought. “I should probably get some ice.” Yeah, right! I wasn’t even disappointed as I looked over at the empty ice freezer. “We are fine on ice,” I told myself. “I made up four blocks of it in gallon size water bottles and filled several large ziplock bags from the ice maker.” Mental note: make more ice bags. Mental notes are pointless for me. I don't even pay attention to the written notes I make for myself. As I waited in one of the long lines (once I discovered where the lines actually formed) I watched the patient, adrenaline-pumped checkers and baggers. I wondered if their families were prepared for the storm yet. Then my mind wondered off, thinking about those who had to be away from their families so they could serve the public. I said a prayer for the firemen, policemen, and medical workers. Then I said a prayer for my husband who was in Asia the whole time, worrying about his family, phoning me every so often to remind me of how big the storm was (thanks) and making sure I was prepared. He knows I don't watch much TV. I briefly thought I may take the gang and head for Dallas, where my eldest daughter lives. But the authorities were asking us to “shelter in place” so the coastal communities could evacuate. I remembered all too well making the traffic jammed trip to Dallas when Hurricane Rita came through three years ago. Besides that, they were predicting that the storm may go that direction. And, after all, Ike was only a category two hurricane. “No,” I decided again for the third or forth time, “we’ll stay put and go there later, if needed.” I said a prayer for those evacuating from Galveston and the coast. Surprisingly, the lines went fast and I had to stop my daydreaming to pay for my purchases. It was then that I discovered that I had forgotten my ATM pin number. I’ve only had it for years and years! What’s up with that? Stress or menopause, I’m not sure. I was going to get cash back to have a little more extra money. “Oh, well,” was my attitude. “I’m glad I went to the bank yesterday.” On the way home amongst crazy, frantic drivers, I passed several gas stations and was grateful I had filled up the day before. They were either extremely busy or had no gas left. With a sigh of relief, I pulled into our half-cleared garage. The grandchildren had pushed everything to one side to make room for the patio furniture and the Explorer. They had worked diligently beside me the evening before to get “ready” for the wind and rain. My eight year old grandson declared himself the man of the house since his papaw was gone. “Sure,” I thought, “whatever,” and then replied, “That’s great and very noble of you.” I returned to ordering, I mean, directing us all in the chores that needed to be done. Even the three year-old helped without arguing.

The “hurricane party” guests came; my daughter, her roommate, their cat, a friend of mine, her daughter, and their dog. As my friend opened the back door to allow the beautiful blond lab outside, I realized the unfinished gate to the newly constructed fence was going to be a problem. So we constructed a barrier (not me, I supervised) out of wood I had just piled into the shed to keep it from blowing around.

The Nail and Board Holder Person

The Hammer/Builder Person

The Dog Lover and Dora the Dog

Then they changed jobs. Hurricane Dance Teacher and Movie Maker.

Daughter #2 took pictures of all valuables in the house and became the chief photographers and video camera operator. This picture was taken after the lights went out. She'll hate me for this picture but it shows her beautiful blue eyes. I dash of color in the candle lit rooms.

Finally, all things were ready except the last two loads of laundry, which were in the washer and dryer. We cooked and ate our last electric range prepared dinner at home until ten days after the storm. Dishes were loaded in the dishwasher and started. I decided to make a pot of coffee and put it in a thermos. We all piled in front of the television to watch the hurricane news but not for long. The wind was barely blowing and it hadn’t even started raining when the electricity went out. “Ah, man!” was echoed throughout the room. The dishwasher and coffee pot were not able to finish their tasks. The clothes in the washing machine were finished but were not put in the dryer yet (at least the water spun out). At that point, the hardest part was not being able to watch the TV to see what was going on. But I had stocked up on “D” size batteries prior to the mad dash and the radio became our main means of information. It was shortly after 8pm. To be continued….