Today has been a really low key day, which has been a pretty good thing. Tonight is one for simple gratitude.
I spent a delightful afternoon with my younger sister. It wasn’t so much that we did tons of fun stuff–mostly we sat and talked, having a late lunch together at my house and drinking tea while chatting about various issues. It has been wonderful spending time with my sisters in the weeks since I moved here. While I’m sure I’ll get accustomed to being close by and spending time with them, I don’t think I’ll take it for granted and will, if anything, find myself hanging out with them even more in the months ahead.
Today was likely the better day of the two days of the weekend to hang out. This part of the country is on hurricane watch as a storm is threatening to blow up the Atlantic coast and turn left right in the part of the country where I now live. The wind and rain might start as early as tomorrow (Sunday), so this morning I decided I’d better get out to the store and do a few other things before the weather turned. By the time I got to the grocery store, all the bottled water–large bottles and small–were cleared off the shelves. I sure hope I don’t need water. I haven’t totally given up on finding some, but in the meantime I’ll be filling up all kinds of receptacles with water. I suppose if the storm does hit I’ll fill up all my pots and pans with water before the power goes out.
It’s an odd thing preparing for something like a hurricane. I haven’t had to do it before, (and thus have no bottled water.) I have no idea what the storm will be like–a small part of me is kind of curiously excited. As I think more about it I realize that I appreciate knowing that something is coming. You can see and know a hurricane is approaching; and if you can see a storm coming, you can prepare for it. Unlike an earthquake, which seems to come out of nowhere or a tornado that can form so quickly you can scarcely take cover before it hits, you know a hurricane (or a blizzard for that matter) is coming and to a certain extent where and when.
I’ve had a few earthquakes and tornadoes hit in my life–difficult, devastating life events that seem to hit out of nowhere, wreaking havoc, leaving damage and destruction in their wake. As is the case with natural disasters, life disasters often require a lot of time to clean up and recover. I spent much of 2011 cleaning up after the challenges that hit in my life and 2012 has been about rebuilding. I still have my share of struggles, but they are more like thunderstorms–a lot of lightening and thunder, wind blowing, but no major damage. I am grateful for the perspective I’ve gained in the rebuilding months. I have learned what I am made of, what I can withstand. I have learned to reach out and ask for help when I’ve needed it and have been gratified at the way people have responded. I have reached out even from my own need and offered assistance to others who were likewise in need. I have learned to stand strong even in the midst of the storm.
I will spend a little time tomorrow preparing myself a little more for the approaching storm. I have made sure that I have flashlights and good batteries and food that I can prepare without power (it’ll be cold but edible). I’ll take a few other precautions as the next few days unfold. I am grateful that in some ways the life storms that have blown through my life have taught me to prepare for the natural storms. I will be respectful and cautious but not fearful or foolish. All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
