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Lindsay Metcalf
on May 22 2013 - 06:00 AM
When that tornado siren sounds, I'm in the basement
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mara williams
on May 21 2013 - 06:00 AM
Summer break has this mom on a house upkeep war path.
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Before it hit, I heard it referred to as "Frankenstorm". Then I heard that the hurricane's name was Sandy. Now they're using appropriate alliteration by calling it "Superstorm Sandy". Whatever you want to call it, though, it's pretty bad.
I opened up my Facebook homepage yesterday and my entire newsfeed was dominated by photographs of flooding on the east coast. I almost didn't believe it, at first. I've been fooled by pictures before. Surely these are from Katrina, or some storm in some other country. But, no. They were current.
Then I started to notice in between that friends of mine in the east were keeping regular updates of the status of the storm.
Don't worry, they would say. Power's out. We have plenty of food, or we're headed out for food, wish us luck. A tree branch is down. Here's a picture of the mess in our backyard.
I thought about my oldest Kansas City friend who's in Connecticut now. I felt an uneasy comfort in seeing her frequent Facebook posts. Keep posting, I told her. A couple of online exclusive friends I've known through message boards and World of Warcraft guilds made sure to post. I don't know if I would have known how they were any other way.
I had a small moment of panic at one point yesterday when I didn't see any sign of my friend I worked with at the Montessori school. She moved to the east coast a few years ago. Had she posted anything on Facebook? I checked and didn't see anything from today. Then I sent her a Yahoo! instant message. (Yes, people still use that.)
There was no answer. So I waited.
There was no answer. Is she okay? Should I message her again? Would that make me sound like a nag? Or a stalker? Or what? I never got to tell her how much I liked being her friend! I'm not good at long distance friendships!
Oh, there. She posted on my wall! Phew.
Today, I know everyone that I know is safe. But I still see these pictures and cringe. According to CNN, over 6.6 families are without power in 15 states and D.C. The death toll is in the 30's. Water is contaminated.
And here I am, sitting in my warm and dry home, typing on my laptop, belly full of food and listening to Phish in my cozy Midwestern city. Nothing to worry about here. My babies are sleeping and my trick-or-treating plans are made.
All the while, people I know are stocking up on candles or evacuating their homes.
Perspective is a good thing. You don't have to personally know people living in the path of destruction to have it. You don't have to be in the path, either. As you read this, just remember, while you're driving your kids to school and heading off to work, there are parents keeping their kids home from school because it's too dangerous to go outside. Perspective is good. It makes us grateful for what we have.
To anyone reading this who has family or friends on the east coast right now, try to take some deep breaths. This is a horrible time, but every storm passes. And, maybe take a break from the internet for a while?
To all my east coast friends, please keep yourselves safe. I'm not good at long distance friendships, like I said. But I still love you and I'm sending dry thoughts your way!
One of my work colleagues who is my boss's boss's boss (does that make sense?) is in NYC. When I spoke to her this morning, she said her apt. didn't have electricity or running water. And I know that her misfortune is small compared to others who had flooded homes or trees down or who lost a loved one. Perspective is definitely a good thing! I've been keeping it in mind this week as I've been hectically trying to get ready for today!
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