in case

hurricane matthew will hit south florida later today as a category 4 hurricane. we are ready....and waiting.

i am adding this the morning after the night before.......we are safe.  we did not lose electricity and we had minimal rain and wind.  we were incredibly lucky!!!!

“in case” you say?

 

this is a lesson in logic and stoicism

an exercise in patience and endurance

(he who has the most gallons of water wins)

i mean at least jim cantore is 150 miles

north of where I sit

in my hurricane-shuttered house

 

provisional measures in place

cautionary supplies line up like tin soldiers

marching to a tune i can’t quite name

sloshing through watery thoughts

threatening to drown me

i take in a full breath of darkness

inhaling memories of other candle-lit vigils

david, andrew, frances, and wilma

and now you, matthew

but you don’t scare me

well, maybe a little

so just "in case"…..

 

Author's Note

posting this while we still have electricity...this will not last.

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

wow! i am so glad you are OK Lydia .. i can only imagine the feelings and thoughts that whipped your mind and heart as much as Mathew perhaps .. love your wrap up :) you are certainly a trained warrior .. i agree with barleygirl .. very straight forward and smooth read
E.

[Lydia Shutter]

Thank you so much, E. We were very fortunate Matthew spared us. Living in South Florida, we always know there is a threat during hurricane season. Lydi**

[Valentine]

May God bless you and all of those affected by this terrible storm. Thou are all right. Valentine

[Lydia Shutter]

Thanks so much, Kathie. Lydi**

[Lorry]

Love it, all those vigils and practice making it one of those inevitable things we have to go through, while having seen worse, we hope not to be proven wrong. Glad to see it didn't hit land. Hoping it stays that way too as it leads itself up coast.

[Lydia Shutter]

People in South Carolina are getting the brunt of Matthew today. Keep them in your thoughts. Thank you for the review, Nemo. I appreciate it. Lydi**

[Lorry]

I will, and thanks.

[Terpsichore]

Often, mother nature will remind us how puny we are compared to her might. We can only ever prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Love those last three lines;

'but you don’t scare me
well, maybe a little
so just "in case"…..

T

[Lydia Shutter]

You are so right...better safe than sorry. Thank you for the review. Lydi**

[emmajoy]

We can send men to the moon, we can make babies... but, we can't stop the weather!

Whilst your fine poem is - as always, immensely creative, you've captured the waiting of that extreme weather very calmly yet with respect for what might come.

From here in the UK, the scenes shown of the hurricane are just dreadful. Sending prayers and hugs to/for every one of you lving within its path

[Lydia Shutter]

We were prepared and we waited....and then Matthew went a bit to the east and spared us. We only had a bit of rain and wind. Never lost electricity. We feel so very fortunate! thank you for the lovely review and your sentiment. Lydi**

[emmajoy]

You must be so relieved, to know something so awful is about to happen must be more than worrying. (You and your community)

[Lydia Shutter]

We were all prepared and on high alert. The stress level was high, but now we all are so relieved.

[emmajoy]

Hope you and everyone around you can have a super.sweet weekend, you deserve it. x

[Lydia Shutter]

Thank you Emma! You too.

[Coyote Poetry]

I lived on the Georgia coast for three years. Those big storms make us know concern. I hope you are safe and sound somewhere. Be careful dear friend.
Coyote

[Lydia Shutter]

We are safe, John. As the newspaper headline read this morning, "RAZOR THIN MISS!" Very fortunatel! Thank you for reading and your sentiment. Lydi**

[Coyote Poetry]

I'm very glad. I missed a few big ones when I was station in Georgia. Nature can be a bear.

[Sheila Kline]

Your approach to this monster is indeed stoic, but as you say you are somewhat of a seasoned hurricane participant ....whew, I've been thinking of you all day and watching the updates so I'm so very pleased it has taken a needed eastern turn, instead of making a direct hit to Palm Beach, and your area thus far.

As I write this, they are speaking of the dangerous storm surge to come, so hope you are doing okay! It's near your area, but not there yet. Prayers for you and your loved ones!! I have a friend who has decided to ride it out in Port Orange so praying for so many others too!

Please let us know you are okay as you are able!!

[Lydia Shutter]

It's now the morning after the night before and we are safe. We were spared. We never lost electricity. We had rain and a bit of wind, but nothing terrible. I am glad we prepared though. Better safe than sorry. Today we undo the preparations. Thank you so much for the review and the sweet words. Lydi**

[Sheila Kline]

Thank God you are safe!!

[Lisa Lindsey]

"i take in a full breath of darkness
inhaling memories of other candle-lit vigils
david, andrew, frances, and wilma
and now you, matthew..."

The pictures I’ve seen of Matthew so far are downright hair-raising. Stay stoic and safe, Lydi! (What a way to ring in the New Year!).

[Lydia Shutter]

Indeed, it was not a great way to start the year. However, we prepared and then we were spared. THAT is the way to start the year. Thank you for the review, Lisa. Lydia

[Gray]

I have relatives in Port St. Lucie and Fort Lauderdale. I wish you luck. Stay safe.

[Lydia Shutter]

I am in Fort Lauderdale and we are fine. Very little wind and minimal rain. However, Port St. Lucie had a little more than we did. Thank you for reading. Lydi**

[Miss Sharon]

Well written Lydi. I've been watching the weather channel today and I am concerned for you and other friends in the path of Matthew. You are in my thoughts, my heart and my prayers. ~Sharon

[Lydia Shutter]

Thanks for the concern and the review....we are fine. As the Miami Herald headline says this morning, "RAZOR THIN MISS"....we never lost electricity! Lydi**

[Miss Sharon]

I am SO happy to hear this Lydi! The threat of hurricanes half of the year is the one thing I detested about living in Florida. ~Sharon

[jacob erin-cilberto]

good luck and keep safe...

very poetic way to welcome, Matthew but i don't think i would put out a welcome mat.

[Lydia Shutter]

Hell no! Looks like we have escaped the brunt of it though we have had a few brown outs so far. Thanks for the review, Jacob. Lydi**