Folks,

It is partly sunny this Sunday in September. The current temp at 9:30 AM is 67°F. The high is expected to be 81°F. The humidity remains in the gasping range at 92%. I can only imagine the discomfort the humidity brings to those in Texas without electricity fans or a/c. Dew [oint is 64°. Alas, fall is not here yet and even if it were we have very warm days into November. Still, I look forward to the change of season and the colorful beauty of fall.

Fittop:

We will know more about that monster churning at 15 mph in the south Atlantic tomorrow as it is supposed to be making a turn northward. All the models seem to be in close agreement with this storm. We do have time for some preparation and planning. I cannot tell you how many nights we have gone to bed with kerosene lamps flickering, shadows dancing on the walls. We lay there listening for the crack and thud of falling trees and limbs somewhere beyond our dark, wind buffeted windows. We'd hear something clatter against the roof and sit up wide-eyed in our beds. Eventually, the wind would slack and the torrents of rain diminish. Sleep would come then. Next morning, the heat and atrocious humidity would wake us early. We would say our thanks for another day and begin the hot, sweaty clean-up praying the crews would get to our house soon and restore the electricity.Everyone was cautioned not to open the refrigerator last the cold air get out and the food go bad if it was a long wait. The raucous sound of chain saws would now have replaced the summery sounds of Cicadas. Birdsong would, however, return as our feathered neighbors sang their thanks for being alive.

Then in due time, the sound of powerful engines up the street would be heard. The beep, beep, beep of warning horns would echo down the street. We'd stop our raking and sweeping to go out and look. Sure enough, the hard working line crews had arrived and were working hard but a few blocks away and headed toward us. The Coleman stove and kerosene lamps were put safely away.What a thrill it was for we knew that we would have electricity before nightfall. What we do so take for granted until we lose it.