Hurricane Sandy: It's Over...or is it?

Nearly thirty hours later, the power is back on.

While living without a computer, TV and lights was an inconvenience, life during and after Sandy was not that bad...for me. Heat, we have gas heat and that was not an issue. We had no loss of running water. Funny how the little things like flushing a toilet are so overlooked in everyday living, but become so important in a disaster such as this. We were very lucky.

The 8"-10" of rain never materialized. If it had, things might have been very different. Living three blocks from the river means you are always aware of problems with the weather. The winds were like nothing I had ever experienced. Hearing the roar of the gusts as they blew in through every possible point of entry in this old house, made me shudder to think of the sound of a tornado.

The power came on 3:52 this morning. Turning on the news, it was the first time I was able to see the devastation. The shore as I knew it is gone. The overhead shots of Seaside Heights looked as if the town, or what is left of it, was built in a desert. The streets have been replaced by tons of sand deposited as the flood water receded. Listening on the radio to Governor Christie's press conference yesterday, he talked about the Boardwalk, or what used to be the Boardwalk. I knew this place. I knew the sausage & pepper stand which was built right in middle of the Boardwalk. I knew the amusement pier, whose rides are now sitting in the Atlantic Ocean.

Now, in the scope of things the Boardwalk doesn't matter. Too many people have lost their lives and their homes, to think any differently. But it is about the memories. The Boardwalk will be rebuilt, but it won't be the same. It will be much more modern, it will feel different. And for the younger generations, it will be fine. They won't have the memories of spending the day being toasted on the beach and spending the nights strolling down a Boardwalk smelling of sausage & peppers, or fresh made zeppoles. It will just be different.

So now New Jersey and a bunch of other states start to rebuild. Some places will be starting from scratch. Me, I'm just fine.

And thankful.

If you can, please donate to either The United Way, The Red Cross or the Salvation Army. Time, blood, cash.

We can all do something.

Born To Run: You Know It

Did you ever have a day when you just wanted to fill up the tank and drive.  Destination...anywhere.  Having one of those days today. No big reason why, sometimes when you work from home...the walls close in a bit.  Or, it could be I won't be headed out of town this weekend, no lake house therapy for me. Bummer.  And I'm a driver. No riding shotgun for this girl, give me the wheel...I'm gone.

Years ago when a mood like this hit, it would be time to head down the shore. Yeah it's Jersey..we don't go to the beach, we go down the shore.  The shore for me, is not so much about going to the beach...as it is breathing in the salt air, walking on the boardwalk and ducking into a dive bar at 2 in the afternoon.  Times change, friends to party with in the middle of the afternoon are pretty scarce.  Like the Allman Brothers sing "there's no one left to run with anymore."

I filled up the gas tank earlier, and for a minute I was so close...but there's a slate of things to do this weekend and nowhere on that list is any mention of the Parkway...south.

Oh well, it's almost the middle of February, can't complain about the winter...the days will be getting longer and one by one all of the gang will be getting itchy for a "sick" day.  I'll be ready.

You can ride shotgun...I'm driving.