I'm sure by now you've been inundated with the coverage. It was as bad as it was portrayed, in my opinion, and I don't think the authorities or the media hyped it. Dozens of people are dead and there's widespread flooding and devastation in many states.
I saw a mess coming early last week so I made plans to take the Afghans to high ground with generators. Where else but the local Ritz Carlton? Decadent you might think, but they're one of the few hotels in these burbs that accommodates four-legged guests under 50 pounds. Zazoo just passed the weight limit but no one asked. It was crazy-frenetic when we arrived noontime Saturday. It had rained earlier and it was hot and humid when a friend loaded up her car. Zaz, ilili in her crate, several milk crates with dog food and supplies, my wellies and slicker a duffle of my personals and a bag of laptop, iPad, wires and cables all on a trolly, sat in the crowded lobby as I tried to check in. Ilili screamed in monkey voice as I moved away from her. Reception was quick, thanks to ilili, and soon we were all in a lovely room...But it's still a room, not a house.
I was mesmerized by the coverage and saddened by the early reports of devastation but slept an hour or so before dawn on Sunday to anticipate Irene touching down at Coney Island at 9 AM. Well, she did, right on schedule. I went down to the lobby a few times to watch the winds blow and talk to door personnel. No other guests were around. Did they not care? How could one sleep in during an epic storm? The wind ripped past the porte cochere and whistled through the doors when closed. I didn't see any debris or people flying by; just incredible sideways rain that pounded the air.
Exhausted as I was, I had to experience it live. Incredible! It's hard to put into words...the swirl of the wind moving the rain. The rain pelting sideways. The young trees near the hotel not swaying but being forcibly pushed to breaking point as their tops went horizontal. I didn't dare venture out. Even when the rain let up a bit. Some brave retriever owners, men, of course, braved the elements with a dumb look, a shrug, and, "he has to go." The hell he does. I brought wee wee pads. "Common sense ain't so common," as the old Jewish man once said.
When it got down to a dull roar I took Mr. Zazoo out for a round the block. That didn't happen. The winds were still too strong, so he piddled in front of the building on their precious little flowers. Oh, well. He wanted to be brave but the wind pushed us back.
Here are some sea grass that usually point to the heavens.
