SURVIVING HURRICANE DEAN /JAMAICA 07

COMMENTARY!!

At present I am in Jamaica - after a great flight and seeing my father for the first time in almost 6 years - "reality hit" - The Hurricane - "Dean" to be exact - is headed directly toward us - according to the news and weather speculators. My biggest concern at present is for my daughter, as she sleeps my heart flutters in anticipation of something I've never experienced before. The sound of the drill screwing the wood planks over the windows has me in a bit of a tail spin!

It's business as usual in my fathers kitchen. Fried breadfuit and codfish for breakfast, washed down with a hot cup of strong sweet coffee. My fathers helper (as they are called in Jamaica) is doing her saturday morning deeds as if nothing is going on. She has filled every single empty container with water incase the water gets shut off.

Now I must address the biggest question! "Why am I and my family here?" - We came so that granpa could meet his beautiful grandbaby. "So why the hurricane?" - all I can do at present is LET GO!!

I AM TRYING MY BEST NOT TO BE AFRAID BUT I'M AFRAID, REALLY AFRAID!

The fan blows cool air and I squirm thinking about not having electricity. I am praying for that miracle to take the hurricane on another course.

4:55pm Saturday evening

And yet again I am turning to the weather channel to check on the progress of "Dean" - Channel 105. Lulu sleeps soundly in front of the fan. So peaceful inspite of what is supposedly crawling our way. The day has been absolutely perfect, the sunshine was bright and full of hope. Dean is closer!! As long as we don't get hit with the eye we will be fine, we will get hit with alot of rain and wind according to my father!

We are as prepared as we possibly can. I think this experience will finally have me stop asking "why????" There is no answer - just the simple and uncomplicated truth that life is experience!

The humming of the fan and the chirping of the birds make time with the strength of the quietness before the storm. I was much more anxious earlier but time has eroded my sense of doom. THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN CHANGE THIS SITUATION OTHER THAN CHANGE ITSELF - NO ONE CAN CALM MY HEART EXCEPT ME AND NO ONE CAN SOOTHE MY SOUL EXCEPT ME!

My father looks weary since he's been through some rough times with this hurricane thing! Phil has been a tremendous help to him and that makes me happy. They are putting some final touches on the house to keep as much water out as possible. The house is extremely sturdy this notion re-inforces my calmness to a degree.

I sort of feel like I am being prepared for something - like I will be reborn after the storm. This experience is giving me the strength to really understand that there are higher forces that mandate life...higher forces that teach everything through experience. The higher force is asking me to look a little deeper into why I am here in this physical body. "Is it just to take up space or to wake up to the fact that life is a miraculous and great gift!"

At this present moment nothing matters except protecting my sweet and beautiful baby girl. The greatest gift I have ever been given!

12:35pm Sunday afternoon

The rain has been coming off and on since this morning. We are completely enclosed in the house. I finally had something more to eat since my stomach settled down. My father is closing off the last opening which is the front gate which closes in the porch! Lulu is napping and has been the perfect baby since we arrived. Everytime the wind picks up my heart swings into a mild panick. All I can think of is staying calm for Lulu! OH! did I mention the power has been out for a couple of hours now!

6:00pm Sunday evening

The wind and rain are dancing beyond the door...it's not as bad as was anticipated...the news on the portable radio tells us that "Dean" is passing 70 miles south of Jamaica!! We cheer and stay calm...nothing is guranteed...anyway we all - my father, younger brother, me and phil have all taken a deep breathe and sigh...we think the worst is passing!!

Monday morning - It's over!!!!!!!

Two trees in the back are destroyed...the breadfruit tree and the avacado tree...we all count our blessings and the three men start the clean up of the yard while me and Lulu get ready for a walk to breathe the beautiful and fresh Jamaican air!!!!

Friday afternoon

We've set out for Negril to relax and enjoy beautiful Jamaica - YAHOO!!!

WE ARE BACK HOME AND VERY THANKFUL TO HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THE STORM!!! YES I THINK I AM DIFFERENT...I CAN ALWAYS THINK BACK ON THIS EXPERIENCE TO REMIND MYSELF OF THE GIFT THAT LIFE TRULY IS!!!!!!!!

PEACE AND BLESSINGS IN ALL THAT YOU DO!

KAREN GIBSON ROC