Tragic's Wake

I guess I’m in full on panic mode today, the big storm isn’t supposed to hit us here until 2AM Monday but city EMO says we need to have batteries, non-perishables, water and candles at the ready. The wind could blow out power lines and our city is notorious for losing power through ordinary storms, never mind the onslaught this Irene bitch is supposed to bring..

I didn’t experience Edna back in ’54 but story from the old timers is that she tore a nasty strip off of Saint John and they say you can still see damage in parts of NS these many years passed. I do remember Gloria back in ’85 and it scared the holy hell out of me. The wind screaming and rocking my house, the power blowing out again and again, they’d no sooner have it back up and there’d be another woof-pop and it was gone again. The city basically just gave up and waited out the storm after a few failed attempts to keep us on the grid. Storefronts blew in, roads washed out, homes on the east side and the west were ruined and trees were felled all across town. I remember that parts of Rockwood Park were closed, the causeway was closed, Grandview Avenue was completely submerged..

This storm is supposed to pass directly on top of us, the bloody hateful raging eye, and I can only hope that she downgrades across New England as she passes through. My city is very old, some of these structures date back to the great fire, many aren’t equipped to handle a real weather situation. Hell, my house is well over a hundred years old and it rocks like a hanging birdhouse if a string of trucks go by..

My panic is usually unfounded though, the last three big storms that had us on total alert amounted to exactly nothing, a bit of rain, standard coastal winds, not even the fury of a half blown out nor’easter. This one seems different though. I mean folks in NYC with amazing rescue and preparation teams in place are still scared shitless and we’re gonna face that same mess with sweet fuck all for resources.

I’ve got a birthday shindig tonight, here’s hoping it’ll keep my mind off the impending storm, but tomorrow I pull everything together, blanket the windows and hunker down to ride it through. I’ll charge all my communication devices and I’ll do my best to keep everyone updated if the power does blow or if anything really noteworthy happens here. I guess in this case, if you come here and see nothing, then no news really is good news.

If you’re in the path of Irene, be prepared. Have your shit together. Be ready to show that bitch who’s boss. I’ll be thinking of you, I’ll be here when the sun breaks through on the other side.. Namaste my friends, Gods bless.

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