Bob's comments on hurricane Frances. I am sure that he wouldn't mind if
you put it in the weekly.
I hope "terrible Ivan" doesn't hit Florida.
Gerald
Subject: WE ARE BACK HOME AFTER "FRANCES"
Hola,
When you live in the tropics, I guess that hurricanes are a reality. We had to
evacuate the barrier island and we went to a friend's house for 4 days. We
lost power the first day. There is almost nothing worse that being in a house
whose windows are closed with hurricane shutters (completely dark), no
air-conditioning, no TV. Just a battery powered radio. It was like living in a
third world country. We were 7 adults and 3 dogs. After the second day, I
could hardly distinguish the dogs from the people. All we did was stare at the
palm trees bending over to kiss the ground from the 105 mile per hour winds,
and eat. I must have put on 10 lbs. in 4 days. When we emerged from the house
after 4 days, Ft. Lauderdale was completely abandoned. We returned to our
condo today in the am. Only residents could return with proof of ID. It was
like living in a totalitarian state.
Our condo never lost power, so we invited the other 5 people with whom we
stayed the previous 4 days to come and live with us at the Criterion since we
had air-conditioning, TV etc.
"Frances" was the worse hurricane to hit Florida in 100 years, the second to
hit FL in a week and a half (breaking a record of 40 yrs.), and the largest
ever in FL....200 mile spread on each side with an eye 75 miles wide. I was
scared when the winds hit, when the lightening ran across the sky and
terrified with the warnings of tornados. This was truly an experience. Thanks
God we were spared a direct hit. We sustained minimal damage to the house.
Stay well, happy and in touch.
Pete