Weathering the Storm

For the last few days, I have felt as if I am stuck in a bad dream and unable to wake up.

Reconnections

Over the last few years, we have found several opportunities for Chris to reconnect with long-lost members of his family. First, he visited his grandfather, whom he had not seen in 30 years. He maintained the relationship, visiting several times and talking to him regularly for three years before his death.

Next, while we were in California planning our trip through Texas, Chris contacted his cousin to see if he would like a visit. We spent a month at the ranch getting to know Cousin Chris and have remained in touch with him since our departure.

While we were at the ranch, planning the next steps of our journey, Cousin Chris suggested that we should visit with Aunt Pru while we were in Florida. Within the past year, we had found her and stayed in touch through Facebook. We reached out to her, and she said she would be delighted to have us visit with her.

Within a few days of our arrival, Aunt Pru asked us to stay for an extended six-month visit. We enjoyed the time spent with her and the community where she lived, so we agreed to stay. As a result, we have spent the last four months getting to know a woman who has lived an intriguing life, the good, the bad, and the ugly. For the most part, it has been a wonderful experience.

Just a few weeks ago, we had a conversation where she expressed concern about us heading back to Colorado just as winter would be setting in. She asked us to again extend our stay at least until the spring, and we agreed.

Aunt Pru loves bluebirds and daisies. I have photos of bluebirds and daisies that I have taken on our journey and in her backyard. We found a frame and created a collage of pictures, intending to give it to her on her 85th birthday.  Once we had it put together, I mentioned to Chris that the previous day had not been a good one for her, so I wanted to give her the gift immediately instead of waiting for her birthday. She was overwhelmed with emotion when we presented it to her.

A Change In Circumstance

I am grateful that I went with my gut. On the Fourth of July, we lost Aunt Pru. She was five days short of her birthday. Not only did we lose someone who had quickly become dear to us, but we also found ourselves suddenly without a home two days before a hurricane was due to arrive.

Amazingly, new friends have come crawling out of the woodwork to help us through our predicament, not only offering a listening ear as we process our grief but also a helping hand in moving in a hurry and shelter from the storm. We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and kindness shown to us in the last few days.

Hurricane Elsa

Our first experience with a Florida hurricane couldn’t have gone better. We kept a vigilant eye on the radar and were happy when they downgraded the hurricane to a tropical storm. As the afternoon progressed, we double-checked to ensure things were secure and prepared as best we could for what was to come. We were both excited and apprehensive. Then, suddenly, the wind whipped fiercely, and the sky opened with pelting rain. The storm had arrived.

Just as quickly as it had begun, the wind and rain stopped. All was peaceful again. I checked the radar to find it had only been a small outer band ahead of the storm, a precursor of what was to come. Over the next few hours, we sat on the patio, enjoying the company as we watched the storm slowly progress towards us on the radar. The storm started breaking up just as it got to us, creating a pocket of calm that, as it continued to change and move, magically stayed over us.

Foreboding clouds surrounded us, but the sun popped out just in time for a beautiful sunset. We secured recycling bins that had blown over in the prelude to the storm. I went for a walk, enjoying the scenery as the setting sun soaked the trees, dripping with Spanish moss, in an eerie light against the backdrop of the dark grey clouds. As I walked, a hawk flew over with a fish clenched in his talons. He was close enough for me to observe the fish struggling to free himself. As I finished the walk, I felt raindrops. It was time to return to the shelter of the patio.

The rain poured, but there was no wind. Although the storm had returned to hurricane strength as it neared Tampa, the radar showed that it started breaking up as it approached us. Finally, six hours after we expected, the wind arrived, sending us inside the house.

In the morning, the road had turned into a Venice-style canal of water, which quickly subsided. We ventured out to check on the aftermath of the storm and happily found that our community had weathered it with minimal damage and only minor flooding.

When our boys have faced challenging moments in their lives, I have often reminded them that this too shall pass. Life is an ever-evolving experience, constantly changing. Nothing remains the same, whether it be good or bad. But, just as Hurricane Elsa passed and the sun returned this morning, we have weathered our storm and are again looking forward to a bright future. We may be returning to tent life once again, but we are okay with that.