Waiting for Ike

I was a teenager when Alicia roared across the gulf coast, slamming into Galveston and eventually Houston. We lived much closer to the coast then and I don't think that I consciously understood what was about to happen as my parents scurried around making last minute preparations. I remember waking in the middle of the night to the frightening sound of the howling wind. Sleep would not be had on this night.

I will never forget the sight of the sky as it cleared just at day break. It was amazingly still with the bluest sky and puffiest white clouds. I was thankful that the hurricane was over. Then I was given the bad news by my parents, this was the eye of the hurricane and we had about 3o minutes before the winds would begin again...this time in the opposite direction.

After hurricane Alicia had come and gone, I remember be with out electricity for at least two weeks and possibly three. I also remember it being very hot. We suffered no damage to our property and no one was hurt. Back in those days, people did run from a storm...they hunkered down and rode it out. Looking back, I am glad we didn't evacuate as I am thankful for this memory.

Our plans for tomorrow are to go stay with our daughter in Katy. It's our intention to hunker down and have a hurricane party. Celebrating Hurricane Ike and mother nature's fury. It is my hope that we will have the same outcome as we did in Alica....a memory that will last a life time without any damage to property or life.