A little more than a year ago, I relocated to North Carolina. My thoughts went back to hurricane Florence that had everyone’s attention in August – September 2018.

All it did was rain during the hurricane that was to devastate North Carolina. Unfortunately, more than 45 people died and yes, there was flooding. Charlotte experienced some wind, but plenty of rain. The local news reports about the hurricane seemed to be sensationalized because Charlotte had a good day compared to the coastal cities east of us.

While watchning the news, the news reporter focused our attention on a car where the water came up to the center of the tire, it was a small car, possibly parked there by the circus, because the vehicle was SMALL! I Almost mistook it for a clown car! The water “covered the tire” (in standing water, no wind) stated the reporter! What about that poor adolescent tree, no bigger than a sapling that now (thanks to the reporter) is a LARGE Downed Tree, laying in the street!

Wow, I bet the ratings for that news channel are off the chart!

…Did You Evacuate?

It appears that hurricane (now tropical storm) Florence lost its wind after it arrives on the coast. Pictures of much of the destruction shown on TV were far east of Charlotte, and the places where many had to evacuate was safe enough for the news reporters.

The calm before the storm was a bit eerie. The sun was shining, and it was hushed outside. I had to take a look to make sure I wasn’t the only resident still parked in the parking lot.

I think if I have to evacuate, I will head over to Bojangles stadium when they are staging all of those utility vehicles from the power companies.

If it is safe enough for those vehicles to stage at the stadium three miles away, perhaps it’s safe for me. My family and some friends called me and asked me: “did you evacuate!” I live south of downtown Charlotte, closer to South Carolina and enough distance from where Florence came ashore.

What now? The calm after the storm is beginning to bore me. The news still reports that we are to shelter in place and I’m ready to venture out. The storm is passing over North Carolina at a pace of two miles per hour! Man, I can walk faster than the wind is blowing!

I thought about going to the local Walmart for some entertainment, not for a movie or a book. I can watch a good video on TV since I have power, but I’m sure the local WalMart will have plenty of impromptu performances by the many shoppers who seem to be auditioning for a role of some sorts. It can be quite entertaining, and since Florence (now a tropical storm who puckered out after landfall) is moving so slow, the store won’t be closing anytime soon.

If you decide to venture outside during or after the next tropical storm and you find yourself in your favorite store, take your time like hurricane Florence did as it puckered out shortly after landfall. When you get to your favorite WalMart, take your time, enjoy the entertainment, get the shopping cart with the wobbly wheels!

Going Against The Grain