Almost that time - again.

Part of my morning routine is to sit here, reading emails and blogs, drinking my coffee, while listening to a local talk show. Today's topic: hurricane season. It seems like Ike just hit. There is so much that hasn't been repaired yet. They gave the damage amount as $24 billion. Now here we are faced with another season.

We have lived here 38 years. In that time, we have weathered two hurricanes. Alicia was the first. In that one the eye passed right over our house. That was an interesting experience. After the rain and winds, it became beautifully clear. It was calm and dry. We looked in the back yard to see our huge pecan tree split right in half. We expected to lose that tree, but it managed to heal and has given us (but mostly the blasted squirrels) pounds and pounds of pecans. After a bit, the skies darkened again and it all started over again.

With Ike, we were so blessed that the eye went more to our east. That put us on the "dry side" of the storm. While we did have our neighbor's tree land on our garage roof (and he STILL has not had his trees trimmed - the bum), our damage was nil. The worst was losing power. After a hurricane, it becomes very hot. It's like the storm pulls all the air along with it. Of course, September is one of our hottest months.

I think the tv stations are doing a good job however. With Ike, a lot of people in the low lying coastal areas (we are 60 miles inland - at least) didn't think they needed to evacuate. They had ridden out storms before, so they were staying put. Of course, the experience with Rita, it is no wonder they were going to stay put. People died on the freeways in their attempt to flee a storm that didn't hit here.

I don't think folks will decide to stay put next time. According to the paper today, four more bodies from Ike have (finally) been identified. That leaves at least one body to still be identified - but I think there are still a lot of missing folks. When houses are washed away, you know bodies have to be washed away. If they went into the gulf, they are gone.

Anyway, I am sure preparations will begin early this time for a lot of people. I was able to find a portable digital tv last weekend. That is really good because my little analog I have had since Alicia will be obsolete. Those little tv's really help to feel connected, and I feel much better with this little new one. That is about all we need to do here to be ready. I always keep canned food, and with the power going out, all the stuff in the freezer will melt - so that is a ready food supply is there - until it spoils and gets thrown out. But I think our plans will be to stay tbrough the storm, and then leave for the SSB.

This is just one of the joys of living along a coastal area. But each region has its own problems. At least it isn't ice and snow - normally.

Peace.