This photo is of the beach we frequent when we are visiting my sister in Florida. It’s on Honeymoon Island and it’s lovely. I’ve spent many hours there with my sister and with Don.
Last night, I came home from the theater and turned on MSNBC, only to learn that Hurricane Irma has moved west and that it seemed to be on track to head up the west coast of Florida, which is, of course, where my loved ones live. There are evacuation warnings for Zones A and B, but I believe they live in Zone C. I talked to Mere yesterday via texts (this was before the change in track) and they are prepared and hunkering down.
Many years ago, I rode out a hurricane when I was visiting Mere and her husband in Tarpon Springs. Because it was off-season, it was called the No Name Storm, but it was a hurricane. It was terrifying. The damage and destruction left in its wake was indescribable.
So many are in the path of this monstrous storm and my prayers are with them. It’s all I can think about this weekend and even though I have to work and take notes and talk to the actors, my thoughts are elsewhere.
Prayers. Prayers. And more prayers.
That’s all I’ve got for you today, my friends. For those of you in Irma’s path, stay safe. Be wise. Know that the thoughts and prayers of millions are with you.
Much love,
Praying along with you!
Thank you, Linda!
My prayers will be with them. Laura is in Charleston, SC right now. I talked to her last night. So far, not even clouds in the sky. I hope it stays that way.
Wish Don safe travels for tomorrow.
Thank you, Debbie.
Praying for your family in the path of this storm. And for you as well having to sit and wait. I’ve dealt with mNy hurricanes in my life and it’s the most terrifying thing I’ve ever had to face.
Prayers and blessings to you all Claudia.
Thank you, Belinda.
My prayers are with your family and with you. May you have peace of mind and comfort.
Thank you, Melina.
You know my thoughts are with you all…
Thank you, Nancy.
Keeping good thoughts about the safety of those in its path is crucial. The waiting is horrendous, and though you’d be busy, Claudia, I know a piece of you is in Florida with your family.
A large piece, Wendy.
Even though Irma has already decimated some islands in the Caribbean – for the past 24 hours it feels as though the whole country is in virtual stasis – waiting for her to get to Florida. And these tense minutes & hours are just crawling by. Please, be smart & be safe people. Listen to local & state officials – they really DO know what they’re talking about right now. They do have your best interests at heart. And may the Force be with everyone & everything in Irma’s path. Peace.
#Resist
Thank you, Janet.
Here in Ft. Lauderdale, as ready as can be. We had to buy tickets to get back from Greece & the earliest was Thursday. Got home at 11pm & spent until about 3:30 boarding up the house next door, then up at 6, starting on our house, with the help of a friend at 9am, yesterday & we got all boarded up & stuff put AWAY.
We couldn’t not come home because the person taking care of our cats evacuated (and took our dog with her, which we requested). It was impossible for us to just leave cats here alone, not boarded up, with no one to feed them.
We have a good strong roof that’s got hurricane strapping on our house, and we have lots of protective foliage.
We always have 17 gallons of filtered water. Lots of food in the freezer and we have gas stove & hot water heater. We don’t use AC anyway, so it isn’t such a hardship to have no electricity (except for losing all the food).
As long as the roof & windows stay secure and we don’t flood, we’ll be OK.
My wishes for all to be safe–– hoping Jose pushes Irma west.
Take care, Cara. Our thoughts are with you.
I am sending prayers to all in the path of this storm. I have a niece and her two children in Melbourne. I live in a northeast suburb of Houston, and even though I made it through Harvey relatively unscathed many friends were flooded. One local high school is out of
commission for this semester as is the local community college. It is going to take years to get things back to normal.
I can’t imagine how long it will take to get back to ‘normal’ Brenda. Thoughts are with you and your community.
I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers. Deb
Thank you, Deb.
Praying for the whole state of Florida. My niece and her family live in Safety Harbor. We just got home yesterday from visiting her. What normally takes about 10 hours to get home took us 30+ hours. My heart goes out to all Florida residents. I am praying for Meredith as well.
Safety Harbor is next to the town in which my sister lives, Dottie.
My hubby talked to his brother…they left Jacksonville for Atlanta. Took them 11 hrs to travel what would normally take 5. I’m glad they evacuated. Wishing Meredith luck and sending prayers. ;)
Thank you, Donnamae.
Those of us in Central Florida are being told we may get the worst winds here in the middle of the state. It is frightening but we were in the bullseye of 3 hurricanes in 2004 and survived it. I was terrified then but God has given me peace and kept me calm this time. Our state government has done a beautiful job of coordinating the evacuations. Once again our country has shown it’s true colors as so many are offering help and showing how good their hearts are. It is during times like these that our country shines. Thank you for your prayers! Praying for your sister and her family.
Janie, I’m thinking of you. Stay safe, my friend.
Dear Claudia, we live in Brandon just outside Tampa and know we are in for a rough time ahead. It means so much for all the thoughts and prayers from so many across the country and beyond. If something good comes out of terrible times it’s this , a sense of togetherness and caring. I pray for your family and all others in distress. Thanks for your wonderful blog and all you share.
I’m familiar with Brandon, Janet. My brother-in-law used to work there. Hang in there. Sending prayers your way.
We’re just east of Tampa and it looks like we are going to get hit hard but we have to stay. Two of our horse boarding clients with trailers left the state with their horses earlier in the week but we have 6 horses of my daughter’s (one of which is pregnant) and 13 others on the property that belong to our boarding clients. We have done what we can to protect them but it seems so inadequate. We are greatly concerned for their safety. Some people say it is better to turn them out to the pastures. Some say they are safer in the barns. Either choice is not good in a hurricane of this magnitude. We’re praying for a miracle.
We also still own our former home in St. Petersburg (south of your sister in north Pinellas County) and although we lived there for 35 years and never had a problem, the situation looks dire and I don’t think the house will be spared this time from storm surge/flooding. Fortunately, the house is covered by flood insurance but our renters have had to evacuate and will probably lose their furniture and belongings.
So much uncertainty. So much stress. So much anxiety. I am getting too old for this!
Mere is east of Tampa as well, Shari. I will be sending prayers out for you and your horses, my friend. And for your home in St. Petersburg. Stay safe. I’m praying for a miracle as well.
I have never lived through or around a hurricane, so I don’t have a reference point except for what we see on TV. Tornadoes are bad enough, and getting that warning for what is approaching in usually just a very short time is scary ~~ but having days and days and days of prep and dread and never really knowing where it will finally track seems just awful. Thoughts and prayers for all in her path. I haven’t heard much about Jose today, but hopefully he just loops out to sea.
Have a good day, Claudia! And safe travels when you head home.
Tornadoes are terrible but quick. Hurricanes linger and are relentless. Neither is good. Thanks, Chris.
I heard that Irma is starting to weaken a little. Hope it is true. Prayers for all in Irma’s path.
Marilyn
Thank you, Marilyn.
I was trying to recall the general area, yesterday, of where your sister lives but I’d remembered before that you’d visited Dunedin with her on a previous post, so I figured it was more west coast. I don’t know anyone in Florida…so, as I watched agape at all the hurricane coverage over the past 30 hours or so, I’d thought, okay, Claudia’s family will be okay because they’re further away from surge, etc. I really HAVE had you and them in my thoughts, Claudia! I’ll keep glued to the news programs; I’ve been gone all day so have been away from the ‘video’ and I’m sure it’s getting well into the thick of things about now, 10pm-ish EST. All prayers with them and you, Claudia. Power of prayer; believe in it. Keep us posted.
I went to Meredith’s blog for the first time tonight. I’ve never looked at her blog before although, of course, you’ve sung her praises so many, many times and she’s sounded like such a wonderful person. Read some of her recent posts. You are two smart and soulful women; sisters; friends. I can imagine or try to imagine the considerations with which they were faced about this hurricane threat – – having a child with special needs with no doubt special home health care equipment/helps/supplies; an elderly (large-breed) dog of age 13 from whom they’d probably have to temporarily be separated if going to an evac shelter; the dog, already in a weakened state, likely not being able to cope well in a sudden, new, noisy environment away from his human family. Meredith probably also has fear in more than one direction because of her recently-ill, older son who’s on his own some two hours from her and possibly in harm’s way himself.
There was a short piece on the news in the early morning hours of Saturday where a news reporter was mentioning someone they’d heard of or run into who’d decided to shelter in place, wherever it was, due to a child with cerebral palsy who wouldn’t do very well in an evac shelter environment. Oh, I think I remember now what it was – – a therapist had stayed behind to make sure all of her patients at a rehab facility were successfully relocated such that she didn’t have time to evac herself, so she was choosing to remain in her building with her dog; must have been a high-rise condo, I’m thinking. And they were asking her who else was choosing to stay and she said there was a neighbor who stayed because of the child. I of course thought immediately of your family, Claudia. I just turned on the news (TV) and now it seems like this hurricane will never get in and out of here; I guess it’s stalled off the coast, 2am-ish EST. I’ll be going on to bed now and asking for peace in prayer for your mind/heart and for Meredith & Fam’s safety. I’m so sorry you’re all having to go through such a trying, scary time.
xo
I’ll keep you posted, Vicki. Thanks.
Mere and her family have been in my prayers for days. I also have a friend in the Tampa area. Prayers for everyone in the path of this monster storm. There just seems to be nowhere to go! It is so large. May God calm the winds and move the water off the land. All prayers, all day.
Thank goodness Tampa was spared when Irma lost energy. Thanks, Tana!
Living in Texas, I have been through 7 hurricanes in my lifetime. An experience I will never forget. My prayers go out to all who went through Harvey and Irma.
They are terrifying, aren’t they? Thanks, Laura.