Tropical Storm Irene kicked a little ass around these parts. The local creek overflowed and swallowed up neighboring yards and a chunk of mine as well. Rivers raged and brooks became powerful. Trees fell and poles were knocked down and many of us lost power. Losing power at my house means no water either. We took trips to the local welcome center to use the bathroom and brush our teeth. The thirty or so hours without power started out with enthusiasm as we would "go camping without driving anywhere" and ended with frustration as a basement filled up with water. The fun part of grilling turned into trying to save food that would go bad. We had "shakes" that were just melting ice cream...but hey if there's one thing I can be...it's creative. The excitement of the first day of school was replaced with a day of playing games and a calm quiet as candles kept us company as the sunlight left our windows.
On return from a trip to tour the swelling rivers we pulled back into the driveway to see our pool toy...a whale...floating in the large lake that had formed between the neighbor's house and ours. I found myself laughing all alone in the yard. It was one of those moments when the tears have been building up behind your eyes for hours...and the hope is dwindling...and the optimism is waning faster than the waters are receding. Slightly maniacal... all alone in my yard staring as the whale left my yard and headed for the depths of the neighboring yard...the laughter just kept coming. A few tears might have slipped out but it least they did so as a result of laughing. In my head I directed a short film following the journeys of the great creature making its way around gardens, birdhouses and garage doors. I also felt incredibly guilty as I imagined it would mock the poor people who were trying to save a house from destruction. Which made me laugh more. I'll admit I had lost my mind a bit by now. I was tired, dirty, saddened at the damages I had witnessed and frustrated. And I was now in a laughing fit I couldn't end. The winds changed and the whale made its way back to the middle of the great lake (complete with what we believe were fish jumping) and I wondered if I should go on in to get it. Some time and a bit of patience and there it was at the edge of the gigantic pool. I walked on over and rescued the black and white plastic renegade who flew from our yard and found the ocean it had been seeking. He is safe.
To all of you going on hours without power...or those that have damage from the storm...or cars that were submerged and totaled...etc...I am truly sorry. I hope the sunny days help us all to clean up the messes and move forward with hope and the strength it takes to keep on going. And if you are having a moment of despair just think of me rescuing a whale from a "lake" in the Poconos....I hope it makes you giggle as well.
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