HURRICANE IRENE...b. Malin

Today we happily walked along the Beach, Cell Phones left at Home...All we wanted to hear was the Sounds of the Birds and the Laughter of the Children, and the Surfers riding the Waves as the Sun Smiled down as she shared her warmth.

What a difference a few days made. Last Saturday we were being told we had to Evacuate from the Jersey Shore, "Hurricane Irene" was coming. Of course we had mixed emotions of leaving and wondering what we would come home to. We live across the street from the Bay, which meets the ocean 8 blocks away! There was going to be a full Moon and the back Bay was expected to Crest...and so we packed, took our "Elderly Neighbors" from around the corner and left. We were heading towards Philly and the Hilton Hotel near the Airport. Every place we had called was booked up. This was the closest location (an hour a way). Prices were high, Advantage was being taken...Human Nature?

I took with me my "late Mother-in-laws" 2 Rings and our "Mac's", and a Silent Prayer that our Home would not be Underwater when we were allowed to return. We put everything away outside and took one last look, picked up the Neighbors and were on our way.

We saw on the Hotel TV that the Waves at the Jersey Shore were 20 feet high and as expected, and there was some Beach erosion. We stood at the large picture window in our room and watched the planes taking off at the airport like large silent Silver Birds...Until they were told no more flights in or out until Sunday afternoon...and then only outbound, no inbound flights until further notice.

Saturday afternoon, Lover Man and I took a Swim in the Hotel's Indoor Pool, while our Neighbors rested. We ate dinner with them, had some laughs and heard some interesting stories and then they said their Goodnights...Saying they are Older and need to Retire Early. Later, Lover Man and I walked the long hallways on our floor for exercise and talked and talked. We (thank goodness) never run out of things to talk about.

Back in our room we couldn't help but be glued to the TV and all the horrors that were unfolding elsewhere...It all seemed so surreal...and the lives that were cut short...why, oh why.

On Sunday we received an e-mail from the town telling us that we could come home, all was clear on the Jersey Shore...the power was on, it had only gone out for ten minutes and there was very little destruction...Come Home, Come Home. A neighbor called me on my Cell to say our Big Trees were all standing... Proudly, I thought to myself as I thanked him.

And so on Monday, we were Homeward Bound! We dropped our neighbors off, then went home to survey our Property. It looked good, oh there were some branches down, but everything was Upright and Dry...what more could we ask for.

We spoke by phone to family and friends. WE were the ones they were worried about. But we were the ones with Electricity and Power...They have no Electricity or Power and some are flooded...We say come here, come to the Jersey Shore. But we all know right now with the flooding in the north and here on the main land, that's not possible. But thank goodness Everyone is Safe, and Alive. They are Amazed that we who live on a Barrier Island are so intact as are we.

And so today as Lover Man and I walked the Beach, this object...A Black and Red Ball comes rolling in on a wave, it's one of those "Surf Bouncers". Lover Man picks it up and say's "well, look at this, It's got the initial "M" written in white". We both stare down at it. "Mmmm I say M for us, Malin...maybe it's Welcoming Us Home"! I suddenly feel like I want to Cry and Laugh for Joy at the same time...and a little of me feel guilty for feeling this way...We are Ok, others are not. I watch as he squeezes the water out of it, and carefully puts it in his bathing suit pocket. This little ball, this treasure, also survived "Hurricane Irene".