What's a Little Rain and Wind Among Friends? Lessons Learned From a Hurricane

I remember Hurricane Gloria. I remember being without power for days on end. I remember going to bed early because I couldn’t watch TV and we had no lights.  My father was against candles and we never used our fireplace, so it was flashlights and nothing else. I think we all went to bed early. 

As Hurricane Irene was approaching, I will be honest, I didn’t prepare much. Not because I didn’t want my family to be safe and taken care of I just wasn’t sure what we would need, what would really happen and I was enjoying the last days of summer too much to worry about Irene.

The Friday before Irene hit I was, coincidentally, out of a few items like milk. So I packed up my kids and headed out to the local grocery store only to find every person within a 40-mile radius doing the same thing. The shelves were bare of bottled water and there was a sense of urgency bordering on panic pulsing through the store like an undercurrent from a strong tidal wave. 

I ran into a girlfriend who was trying to do her weekly shopping. We chatted in the aisle and joked about running through the store screaming, “Armageddon!” We didn’t do this but it was fun to imagine the response.

On Sunday morning, I woke to incredible gusts of wind and I had a minor panic attack. Thoughts about losing power for days on end came to me and I wasn’t sure how we would flush our toilet or clean ourselves. When we lose power, we lose water and flushing ability. So I quickly filled a bathtub with water and headed to the kitchen to bake up some muffins and see what we would eat if I lost my stove.

We lost power at 8:30 that morning and the only reason I know the time is because my son yelled,” Already? It’s only 8:30! How am I going to complete my wizard test?” So it was 8:30 and we had no entertainment but each other. Thankfully we had board games, crafts and wine. Wine for the adults, crafts for the kids — in case you are questioning my morals. We didn’t drink the wine at 8:30, but I will be honest and say the thought did occur to us.

The day dragged a bit. My husband disappeared at one point and I found him sound asleep in our bed. I let him sleep. If he had done that to me a few years ago I would have sent the kids, the dog and the cat running into the room, but I have matured enough to know I would be able to use his nap to my advantage later. 

The kids did the craft, foam puppets that were more work than they were really worth, and we played Sorry, which can be endless, but on a day when you can’t go outside and can’t get anywhere and you have no television to fall back on, Sorry! fits into the day rather nicely.

By noon, the wind seemed to be dying down and my husband was outside cleaning out the garage. This I cannot explain, you just have to know him. But he did a lovely job and the kids went out and played around until the wind got fierce and then we pulled them into the garage to watch the trees sway.

We survived the day and were pleasantly surprised to have our lights pop on about 11 p.m. Sunday night. We were without cable and phone and internet the rest of the week, but compared with many of my neighbors, this was no challenge at all.  It is amazing what we take for granted, refrigeration, indoor plumbing, the ability to function without anyone’s help on a daily basis.

What I do not remember about Hurricane Gloria because I was still in high school and too young to really pay attention was how our neighbors helped on another. I heard so many stories last week of friends helping each other by sharing what power they had with those who had none. Neighbors offering their homes and washing machines and showers to those who were without. Friends offered breakfast, lunch and dinner. People shared their generators and their generosity.

It might have been that way when Hurricane Gloria blew through. I only know the day the power came back on one of our neighbors came running out of her house shouting with unadulterated glee and we all ran into our homes and turned on our TVs.

I guess I didn’t mind Hurricane Irene the way others did. We certainly didn’t feel the pain of it in my house and for that I am grateful. I am also grateful for the break from the television and the internet. And for watching my kids play with sticks and rocks and each other. 

I am grateful for quiet evenings talking with my husband and reading, without the noise and distraction of television and computer screens. I was glad for a few extra days with my kids before the rush of the school year set in. It extended summer and I am never upset when summer gets an extension.

I certainly hope we don’t see another hurricane anytime soon — or a blizzard for that matter. But I am glad for the lesson Irene taught and for the compassion and kindness that I have now been reminded lives in us all. 

And I know I am surrounded by some pretty great people who know how to share what they have and extend themselves when they are needed, although I don’t think I needed a hurricane to prove that.