OUTTA ZONE in the zone

We are not alone in having underestimated the impact of Hurricane Sally, the center of which passed, oh, let’s say ten miles to the east of my house. Tuesday night was really rough. At 3am, my husband said that he and I should sleep in separate rooms, and I agreed. The unspoken reason for this decision was that, should a tree smash the house, we would not both be hurt or killed. I drank a saki cup of gin at 4am to settle my nerves. Thankfully, my daughter slept through the whole dang thing until 8am when the wind spirits were winding down.

We peered outside. Damage was not too bad! The sheep house stayed upright. At least 11 of 13 chickens survived. Seven tall pines had bit the dust without hitting structures.

The county currently reports 4,300 trees down on power lines. I calculate that 7% of those are in my neighborhood because I like the number seven. We are rural. It might be weeks until we have power, but I’m hoping for four days.

I’ll be at my mother-in-law’s lovely home with lovely electricity while my husband stays home to keep the animals alive and the looters off’n our prop’ty. Being away from home feels like vacation but not. Today, I walked 3 miles around this cute western-Mobile neighborhood and then helped my daughter with her Algebra homework even though her school is technically canceled for the week. Getting stuff done! Post-hurricane evac accomplishments. Next I’ll get her to color in all the states of Mexico for her Independent Study course. Mean momma making homework happen while school is out!

People coming together to help each other out releases happiness into the atmosphere. There’s a lot of that in South Alabama today.