Reality Check

   I am bemused (not to be confused with "amused") by folks who say "I love hurricanes."  Three different people made that statement to me in the past month.  No.  No, you do not.  You may love the excitement that comes with the uncertainty of the storm but have you carefully thought through that statement?  Keep in mind, I am not talking some minor hurricane here but rather something like a Cat. 5 storm. That is not a "likeable" thing.  The loss of life, the total destruction and the misery after the fact is enough for any reasonable person to realize that it is not possible to love hurricanes.  I like a good storm.  Trust me.  When tropical storms come through this area, I admit there is a "thrill" of riding out that entity.  But...ones like Hurricane Katrina are not loveable in any sense of the word.  We stayed for Katrina...we will stay for any others but it was no party, folks.

  

  I wish folks would not claim to love hurricanes.  After going through Hurricane Katrina and seeing the heartbreak in so many folks, there is little to love.   While we had damage to the Little Bayou House (3 trees on the roof, water ruining floors, furniture destroyed and all of our plumbing ripped out), we were fortunate. Others lost everything...many lost their lives.  (And before thinking "Oh, insurance covered it", think again.  Hurricane insurance does not cover the tidal surge that comes with storms.)  So, before making the statement about your love of hurricanes, folks, ride out a Cat. 5 hurricane.  Stay strong when the whole house begins to shake, windows break regardless of having storm shields, trees come through the roof and the storm surge pushes inside. Stay sane through the deafening roar of the winds which seem to be never ending. Stay for the aftermath.  Don't pull up stakes and go somewhere else.  Stay.  Live without the luxury of electricity, running water (think no bathroom) and even phone service...not for a few days, but for months.  Deal with the mountains of debris, the stench of death, the hoards of flies and mosquitoes, the impossible heat and looters trying to steal what you have left.  Push up your shirt sleeves and clean the muck from your home and then go help others do the same.  Console those who have lost everything they owned or even worse, lost their loved ones.  After you do that...then, if you still "love" hurricanes, proudly proclaim it.  Until then, however, it is not a wise thing to spout because someone who has dealt with such is going to take you to task and not be as gentle as I just was.

  Oh, the photos?  Those were of our place after Katrina.  That debris?  In places, it was ten feet deep.  Try digging out from that. Look closely and you will see the roof of the Little Bayou House sticking out among the downed trees in the first photo.  Still think hurricanes are great?  Oh, and before the thought that perhaps we should move occurs...this is our home.  This is not a whiny post but rather a reality check for those who think hurricanes are all fun and games.