After Wilma...

On Monday October 24, 2005, Wilma relentlessly and without mercy, kicked our asses and when she was finished with us, although we were weary and sad, we all sat back and thanked God that everyone we love was still safe and whole.

But some of the places we love, weren't so lucky...

This is the back of my mom and Robin's house after Wilma.


Robin took this picture, standing in the dining room, it used to be their back porch.


The back porch of my parents house from another angle.


This was Robin's 2 bedroom trailer in Okeechobee, they'd been using it to store some things (pictures, photo albums, knick knacks -- a lot of memories were in that trailer).



Same trailer different angle.

Losing memories and places we love was hard but that's life and there isn't anything we can do to change it. So, instead, we'll just pick up the pieces of what's left and move on.

And to lighten my mood...

YOU KNOW YOU LIVE IN FLORIDA WHEN....

Three months ago you couldn't hang a shower curtain; today you can assemble a portable generator by candlelight.

You have FEMA's number on your speed dialer.

You have more than 300 'C' and 'D' batteries in your kitchen drawer.

Your pantry contains more than 20 cans of Spaghetti O's.

You can recite from memory whole portions of your homeowner's insurance policy, specially HURRICANE DEDUCTIBLES

You are thinking of repainting your house to match the plywood covering your windows.

When describing your gutted house to a prospective buyer, you say it has three bedrooms, two baths and an open air feel to it.

Your SSN isn't a secret, it's written in Sharpie on your arms.

You are on a first-name basis with the cashier at Home Depot.

You are delighted to pay $3 for a gallon of regular unleaded.

The road leading to your house has been declared a No-Wake Zone.

You decide that your patio furniture looks better on the bottom of the pool.

You own more than four large coolers.

You can wish that other people get hit by a hurricane and not feel the least bit guilty about it.

You rationalize helping a friend board up by thinking "It'll only take a gallon of gas to get there and back."

You catch a 13-pound redfish - in your house.

You can rattle off the names of three or more meteorologists who work at the Weather Channel.

Someone comes to your door to tell you they found your roof.

Ice is a valid topic of conversation.

Your "drive-thru" meal consists of MRE's and bottled water.

Relocating to South Dakota does not seem like such a crazy idea.

You've been laughed at over the phone by a roofer, fence builder or a tree worker.

A battery powered TV is considered a home entertainment center.

You don't worry about relatives wanting to visit during the summer.

Having a tree in your living room does not necessarily mean it's Christmas.

You know the difference between the "good" side of a storm and the "bad" side.

Your kids start school in August and finish in July.

You go to work early and stay late just to enjoy the air conditioning.

And sadly, a good majority of those are true.