Waiting to hear from friends who were in the path of Hurricane Irene (they're fine) had me thinking about our one and only English hurricane that I can remember, in 1987. I was all of 18 and in my second month away from home, and because this was 1987, we didn't have televisions in our rooms, or internet or mobile phones to be aware that there might be a hurricane. Or not, depending on who you listened to. It may have been on the radio, but frankly I was busy discovering cheap rotgut alcohol (oh Thunderbird, beloved drink of penniless students and winos), Indian food and Pink Floyd. Oh, and wondering what to do about being a non-smoker when the pot got passed around (they baked me flapjacks! I mean, I'm sure they would have. But they didn't. Because of course I did not try it. Never. Not even in flapjacks. Because that would be bad. Ahem, so, moving on).
Our halls of residence were in the middle of a beautiful wooded park. It did occur to me that evening that the trees were swaying an awful lot in the wind, but I shrugged my shoulders. Windy. Big deal.
Quite a big deal, as it turned out, although I suspect not on Irene's scale. At breakfast, we found out that we had all slept through our first ever hurricane and some of us went out to look.
Our baby trees around the edge of the park were all bent and sad. One had fallen over, and being fine upstanding youths, who never smoked pot or ate interesting flapjacks, we thought, poor Sad Fallen Tree. We will save you, Tree! Together we pushed Sad Fallen Tree up, to stand next to the path once again and have a new chance at life. Proud of our efforts, we moved on in our quest to explore our wind-ravaged land and offer help, or at least be nosy.
Of course, a hundred yards up the road, we realised that Sad Fallen Tree might fall over again, and this time might hit someone on the way down. We raced back down the road and pushed over Sad Fallen Tree again, so that it didn't kill someone in its second tragic demise.
Being a fine upstanding youth is hard sometimes. You might even look like a vandal. Just as long as you don't get caught eating the flapjacks.
I posted something. It was eaten. Needless to say, nice blog, not retyping the rest. Crap.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why my blog hates your comments so much, but thank you for trying. :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the UK ever got hurricanes. I have a picture of a tree similar to the one above. Actually it was one of three trees that fell on the house. Oy.
ReplyDeleteGlad to meet you, Rosie. I've put you on my reader so I'll be able to follow along when you post. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Irene hit us at a cat-1 and it was...boring. Lights didn't even flicker. But, that's a good thing. Even our basement stayed dry. :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't know England ever had a hurricane. I assumed the waters were too cold to be hospitable to a hurricane there.
Also, pass the flapjacks. ;) hehe
Thanks for stoping by my blog and the follow. *hugs*
Have a wonderful week!
Hugs,
Lola
I have endured Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that completely uprooted my life. Others have only bruised it. Hurricane Season is a time of dread here in Louisiana. Have a great new week. Thanks for visiting and following, Roland
ReplyDeleteI must say, as a New Jersey resident who experienced Irene, is that all there is? Our lights flickered a couple times and we briefly lost cable tv and Internet--oh, the humanity--but that was it. Even some flooding was merely inconvenient, tho I do feel for those whose homes were flooded.
ReplyDeleteI guess we were lucky, as were you with your English hurricane.
Oh, and I smoked cigarettes, but never anything stronger, and never tried the brownies, either. Now sometimes I wished I had, but what can I say? Born a good girl, gonna die a good girl... *sigh*
Hope that tree makes it. Fine and upstanding deserves some rewards.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit to the Write Game during the Campaign. Appreciate it.
I am very grateful that we specialise in mild and grey weather. Wouldn't trade you guys for the big dramatic weather under any circumstances.
ReplyDeleteI remember those hurricanes! Exciting times. Though I'm glad that they aren't as exciting as they are for our friends over the pond. Mild greyness definitely has its benefits!
ReplyDeleteI agree in regards on how sad Hurricane Irene was. OH GOD HURRICANE'S COMING YOUR DOOMED turned into a windy rain storm. It was really disappointing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by my blog and saying hello! I'm glad to have met such great people through the campaign!
Living in L.A. we don't get hurricanes which is why it struck me as funny that our power went out last week due to a down tree. I guess it was so that we could relate to those dealing with Irene.
ReplyDeleteI've been in eastern NC for twenty years and have seen my share of "fun" ones. Fortunately Irene spared us. Now just waiting on Katia. Boo.
ReplyDeleteI <3 people who use the word flapjacks. Thereby, you are <3ed :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog! Nice to meet you, and I'm a new follower now too :)
Who knew that talking about flapjacks was the way to people's hearts? :) But then again, what's not to love about flapjacks, especially slightly overcooked ones that have a crispy toffee coating.
ReplyDeleteDamn. Now I'm hungry.