Friday, August 31, 2012
Ask Elnora--About Storms--Again??? Lenora Worth
This has been a strange week for Elnora. Full of storms and those things that make you want to stay in bed under the covers. I can't even muster up anything sassy to say, except "Hold on to your pearls, girls." It started with worrying about our townhouse in Florida. Isaac was making a path right toward the Panhandle. A few days later, Isaac changed his mind and moved a little more Northwest, right toward the state of Louisiana. Which is where Elnora lives, too! Now instead of worrying about my favorite dishes down in Florida, I had to worry about making sure I had my flash drive with me at all times in Louisiana. (As every writer knows, that flash drive goes with us, no matter wind, rain, sleet or snow!)We have a pantry underneath the stairs or as I call it, The Harry Potter room. I used to grab children and my flash drive and the cat and pull all into that pantry each time a tornado threat hovered over us. But all this talk about storms, and all the graphics and live shots I saw on The Weather Channel and CNN, got me to thinking about South Louisiana. I just happened to be reading over AAs for the second book in my LI Cajun series, Sweetheart Bride, which is due out next February. In that book, a hurricane comes through the little town of Fleur, located on a bayou near the Gulf of Mexico. As I proofed those pages, they read with an eerie similarity of what was going on in real life. I didn't plan it that way, but all the emotions I'd poured into that story were now swirling in my own head as I thought about yet another flood down South and many displaced people moving into shelters here where I live. I hated to see that happen again and on the seventh anniversary of Katrina, at that. But this is life. This is a world where anything can happen. When we decided to settle in Florida, some people fussed at us and reminded us about the storms. I told those people that I couldn't worry about things I couldn't predict or change. We live in a beautiful world, but there is no completely safe place to live. You just have to go out there and enjoy life and get through the bad stuff with the help and kindness of strangers, with the love of family and with God's grace covering you. Isaac was a massive storm, full of wind and rain and a dangerous majesty. I'm blessed that I'm safe and dry. What kind of weather do you have where you live? Let's discuss life in an unpredictable world. What do you do to calm youself in a storm?
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My heart and prayers go out to everyone affected by the hurricane and flooding. So glad to hear you're weathering the storm.
ReplyDeleteI'm blessed up north that storms are seldom life-threatening. As a child, I loved thunderstorms until I saw The Wizard of Oz. After that, I kept looking for a tornado to swoop down and carry us away, and I knew I wouldn't end up in Oz. :-)
My scariest moment happened when the plane I was on caught fire in the ventilation system. The cabin got so hot the plastic was melting, and we could barely breathe. The fabulous flight crew extinguished the fire and got us back on the ground in minutes, but I'll never forget that moment when I realized I might be meeting God very soon. Prayer brought incredible calm. I could feel His presence, telling me everything would be all right. I cannot imagine dealing with such a thing not knowing our Lord and Savior. I pray He is with everyone during these tough days in the wake of Hurricane Isaac.
Beautiful words, Christine. That had to have been scary! I'm glad you are here to tell the tale. Having faith, no matter what, can calm us during the storms.
ReplyDeleteI live on the Texas Gulf Coast and have been through several hurricanes but none with as much damage at New Orleans gets. I just have to trust in God that he will get us through the storm and it's aftermath.
ReplyDeleteI am in WI. The major storms we have are tornadoes. In fact, a major one blew through my sister's town 2 summers ago. Many houses were destroyed, but PTL no lives were lost. My sister was blessed to only have to replace their roof and siding, but less than a 1/4 mile away, houses were completely destroyed. Lives were not lost b/c the tornado came at 9pm--so people were still awake and able to get to shelter. I shutter to think if it had come 3 hours later.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post, Elnora. I'm glad you are safe. We've had two tropical storms roll through our area this year, but we were away from home both times. During the first one, neighbors were watching our cat and house. During the second storm, my brother-in-law and my hubby's aunt were there to keep tabs on my mother-in-law who was in the nursing home. We had no damage, but my brother-in-law was in a panic because the pool was about to overflow. But all turned out well. I always way I'm not too attached to my things. I hope that's true.
ReplyDeleteEllen, I love Padre Island in Texas. That area has been battered a lot, too. But poor New Orleans is like a big bowl just waiting for water to fill it. Tracy S, I've been through a few tornadoes. Once one took every chinaberry tree around our house (big, old trees)and left our old farmhouse. Merrillee, you are in a lovely area but I know the storms come your way a lot, too. Stay safe, everyone!
ReplyDeleteOh, I wondered--do you use the weather a lot in your books, Craftie Ladies???
ReplyDeleteHi Lenora. As you know I grew up right across the river from New Orleans and as a chaild I rode out a lot of these with my family and it was always scary, though mom did her best to keep us distracted with games and such. I still have a lot of family down there and I've been checking in with them preety regular this week and although they are without power and are dealing with flooded streets, the are otherwise okay.
ReplyDeleteLenora, I'm glad you and your pearls and flash drive are safe! :) I usually take the kids, the animals and my laptop to the basement when we have tornado warnings. Got all the priorities set!
ReplyDeleteWe just got a little rain from Isaac around the Atlanta area.
Christine, I got scared just reading about your ordeal. How terrible. I'm thanking God for saving all of you on that plane.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're safe, Lenora.
Praying for all those in harm's way.
We go to the basement when the local tornado sirens go off. The news tracks the storm's progress almost street to street so we're well aware of encroaching danger.
Our first response is always to ask God's protection.
I have been in a bit of a cocoon the past several days I haven't seen much news but knew the storm hit.
ReplyDeleteIm in my own storm right now. Right now its a storm of emotions and memories which are hitting with such force today that I am struggling to control them. I hate this feeling.
Here we have thunderstorms at times, and rain but nothing else really. Oh there have been mini tornados but they are nothing like in america. Not in a flood zone etc. I do hear we are at the end of a earthquake.
I read or watch movies during a storm. I live in a place called the tropics so rain does not bother me. However when cyclones are announced or not announced as was the case a couple of months ago, or storm gates aren't opened which causes 50cm of flood water to go through downstairs. Its scary but as you said it good to have the comfort of having stranger show caring and family to help you get through and some great creative people who create stories so I can escape my reality but also learn life lessons at the same time. By the way just started reading The Diamond Secret and oh my Cullen and Esther's interaction classic.
ReplyDeleteWe're more focused on earthquakes here in California. I'm currently writing a natural disaster series so that's really on my brain now. So glad everyone is okay.
ReplyDelete