Irene - Part One

The talk of the storm started days before the hurricane. The hype was bigger than the event itself, and for once that was alright. Afterwards some expressed disappointment that Irene did less damage than predicted. That sentiment was not expressed by anyone whose basement was fully flooded, whose town turned into a river, whose house was crushed by a downed tree, and was clearly not said by one of those fatally wounded by the storm.

It was all over the media starting on Monday. The hurricane would hit my area, New York City, on Friday - make that Saturday - make that Sunday - make that we're really not sure so stay tuned. On Friday everyone I knew was looking for one obscure item or another: a transistor radio, a non battery operated phone, a twelve pack of frozen Dr. Prager Veggie Burgers...

(To Be Continued According To Interest Expressed)