On Ending the Waiting Game

Dean has passed, and Arrecife is INCREDIBLY lucky to have escaped the storm's wrath. All day yesterday I was glued to weather reports online and on TV, dreading what would happen to the island. I'll be honest - I was not a fun person to be around yesterday. All I could think about was what was happening a few hundred miles south of here while I spent the day relaxing in the Florida sunshine. (By the way, I'm also a little worried about the fact that I'm getting cold in 95 degree weather. September at home is going to be downright nippy.) Fortunately, Dean dodged the island, veered south, and disaster was averted for our little neck of the woods. It should be noted, though, that I feel so bad for the Yucatan. They will not be so lucky.

I spoke with Boss-Lady tonight and she's asked Kristal and me to return to the island as soon as possible, so I'll be flying back tomorrow night. We expect to be operational again by the 24th, so there's a lot of work to be done in the meantime and they need all the bodies they can get. There has been such a flurry of emailing, instant messaging, booking and canceling of plane tickets, and just general worrying and fretting during the past two days that I think I'll be needing another vacation after this vacation.

And let it be known that I will not leave the island for a hurricane again. I know, this was just a fluke that Arrecife dodged a bullet, but I was so overwhelmed with worry for the people living there that I know I wouldn't be able to do it a second time. I would much rather deal with the conditions of any storm and its aftermath than feel so helpless again.

And besides, then you'll be able to see all the cool storm photos and hear all my cool storm stories. And I'll have hurricane survival bragging rights to add to my shark attack ones - can't forget about that!