‘bad things do happen in the world,
like war, natural disasters, disease.
but out of those situations always arise
stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.’
-daryn kagan
—
for all who suffer as a result of the disasters
and
for all who arise to do extraordinary things to help.
—
image credit: REUTERS/Adrees Latif- East Texas
worst walk ever
yesterday
on a very, very hot
late summer’s eve
humid as hell
headed out
on a
forced death march
downtown
all in the name
of being healthy
and
enjoying the city
at eye level
when i
noticed the signs
that i was headed
right
looked up
into a black cloudy sky
the air began to swirl
rain blew sideways
into my eyes
i had happened
into
a
wizard of oz
storm
somehow
and
made a decision
to head on back
lightning flashed
a mile to go
put my phone
in my shorts
to save my connection
to the world
i-pod
deep in my pocket
to save the music
people running
kind of scary
as i
quickly
transformed
into
an
unwitting
wet t-shirt contestant
cut through the park
ran into wall
of construction
turned around
shortcut down street
closed off
for resurfacing
finally made it
home to the cottage
nacho the cat not the food
was outside and missing
flipped on light
to put key in door
no light
opened door
pitch black
only light
came from my eyes
power out
fumbled for flashlight
apparently it is a 1910 model
didn’t have much effect
on the darkness
so, so sweaty
and
rain sodden
no hot shower
cell phone
powering off
internet gone
decided
only thing to do
was go to bed
stumbled up the dark stairs
still no cat
still no light
room was 157 degrees
or so
no fan
no air
heard sirens
fire department
on my street
buzzing
flashes of electric light
couldn’t just lay
on the bed
naked
and
fall asleep
in all my glory
trying
to cool things down a bit
had to be on high alert
kept the teva’s on
shorts, shirt
ready to flee
at a
moment’s notice
drifted off
dreaming of a better day to come..
woke up this morning
bright and cool
nacho the cat not the food
came home
to the cottage
police tape
decorated
the town
transformers blown
power lines down
mighty trees
toppled
car
in garage
at mercy
of electric opener
walked
back downtown
to a
friendly coffee shop
read
and
wrote
and
talked to other
blackout neighbors
and
had
a
very, very, very
large
coffee
power company
estimates
i will
have power
restored
by
wednesday
night
at 11:30
or so
—
“the major difference between a thing that might go wrong
and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong
is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong
it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair”
– douglas adams
—
credits: planetcurioso.com, new line cinema
when my niece and her family
relocated to the midwest
moving
from
flagstaff, arizona
to
toledo, ohio
for two years of graduate school
i was excited
to have them nearby
and
i told them
about
the beauty of the seasons here
and
no drama
no wildfires
no scorpions
no excessive heat
no worries
then
came the polar vortex
and it was so cold
no one could go outside
or navigate
the mountains of snow
and i told them
that this had never happened before
in my living memory
and not to worry
the worst would be over soon
and then
came
lake erie’s
toxic algae bloom crisis
no one could drink or bathe
or even boil the water
for days on end
and i told them
i’ve never, ever
have
experienced this before
in my entire lifetime
and i told them not to worry
the worst would be over soon
and then
came the 5 inches of rain
in just
a few hours
and the floods
and no one could drive their car on the roads
and basements flooded
and you might
have to kayak
through your neighborhood
to get home
and i will tell them
that this
has not happened here
since 1925
before i was alive
and not to worry
the worst will be over soon
and
i hope they believe me
as we head into autumn
in the beautiful midwest
and
i am
crossing my fingers
that
there will be
no earthquakes
or
volcanic eruptions
or
a series of rogue sheep attacks
and i wonder
if they
are beginning
to doubt my word
———
one person’s disaster is another person’s talking point.
henry rollins
—
image credits: infographicality.com, news net.com, sallyreed.com, nyt.com, acuweather.com, oc115.com, kwana.com
I have my glasses on.... 