The last four days since Hurricane Helene have been hectic, to say the least. The power went out here about 2 a.m. Friday morning, September 27th and didn’t come back on until late Monday, the 30th. No complaints though as things could have been much worse; there was not much rain nor a tidal surge. Mostly it was wind damage with downed trees and loss of power. It did change our routine, however, and make life temporarily unpleasant.
After the storm passed we ended up at Harris Teeter* along with what looked like a couple hundred others seeking breakfast. Harris Teeter was the only place open and was ready big time with a hot buffet that would’ve done credit to the most stylish club. People were perched about the store enjoying scrambled eggs, sausage and waffles everywhere. Others were stuck in a long line at the Starbucks counter ordering cafe au lait and Americanos. It was a sight, gents in their Guccis and ladies in platform sandals.
We “camped” out at home thinking the power would be on soon, but after two days of stifling heat and no lights, we decided to accept the kind offer to visit Betty’s cousins down on Amelia Island, Florida, about an hour south where everything was still working. There we were able to go out for dinner, take hot showers, and enjoy the wonders of electric lights.
I’m afraid that we all have become frighteningly soft so that even the slightest deprivation of modern amenities makes us miserable. It’s scary that in a real crisis many people would have trouble scrounging firewood or lighting a fire, cooking, finding water and keeping cool or warm.
My thoughts go out to those most seriously affected by Helene, those down on the Gulf coast where entire towns were devastated and those inundated by life threatening floods in the mountains. The rest of us will “count our chickens” that the big one missed us this time. Perhaps, we might even be wise enough to prepare for the next time.